The Apple Store in Rio
In the latest Apple Crime Blotter, an executive sues Apple over a stolen iPhone, a prisoner stands accused of using iPad to solicit minors, and a pig enters the Apple Store in Brazil.
The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.
iPhone found taped to airplane toilet leads to arrest
In September of 2023, a family complained that they found an iPhone taped to the lid of a toilet on an American Airlines plane when their daughter used that bathroom, and they claimed a male flight attendant was responsible. Later, they filed a lawsuit.
On January 18, the man believed responsible was arrested. According to WCNC, citing the FBI, the man has been charged with one count of attempted sexual exploitation of children and one count of possession of child pornography depicting a prepubescent minor. Per the complaint, the man had encouraged the girl to use that specific first-class bathroom. A search of the man's iCloud account found more videos of minors using the bathroom on planes.
Executive who sued Apple claims he lost massive data after iPhone theft
An executive named Michael Matthews, who is based in Minnesota, had his iPhone stolen by a pickpocket while traveling in Arizona in December of 2023. According to CBS News, much worse things happened afterward, leading Matthews to sue Apple in federal court.
According to the story, the thieves took his iPhone, were able to hack into it, and disabled his ability to access it remotely. They gained access to his Apple ID and Apple Pay accounts, while also resetting his Recovery Key.
Matthews' attorney alleges that in making this possible, "Apple has made a policy decision to assist and perpetuate the lawlessness of criminals over the ownership and privacy rights of its users."
Serial iPad thief sought in California
Police believe the same man is responsible for several thefts of iPads from Target stores throughout Southern California. ABC 7 reports the Irvine Police Department has released a video of the man grabbing an iPad from a store employee.
The thefts, per police, have added up to about $39,000 in damages.
#FelonyFriday - In October, we asked for help identifying a serial burglar suspected of stealing from Target stores throughout Southern California. The suspect has continued his crime spree, and the estimated loss to Target is $39,000. In the most recent cases, the suspect pic.twitter.com/M1ZmOZajAF
— Irvine Police Department (@IrvinePolice) January 13, 2024
Prisoner accused of using iPad to solicit photos from minors
A man incarcerated in a Texas prison has been accused of using a prison-issued iPad to attempt to "coerce five young girls into sex" and solicit nude photos, KSET reported.
The 36-year-old inmate was charged with online solicitation of a minor under 14 years of age, and the investigation turned up something unusual, per the report. He had been using the iPad for "communicating with his wife, who is also his first cousin," and the wife is also married to another man, leading to potential bigamy charges.
His wife had been ordered to cease contact with the prisoner, to regain custody of her children.
Chicago schools lost millions worth of iPads, report says
The Inspector General of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) has issued an annual report, showing that the district reported more than 77,000 tech devices, worth about $23 million, in the 2021-22 school year. The lost devices included "laptops, iPads, Wi-Fi hotspots, printers, document cameras, and interactive whiteboards."
"In a District of our size, some device loss is expected, but we remain concerned about the loss of any public asset," CPS said in a statement to Fox News, which reported on the release. "Our CPS team will work to streamline our system for tracking resources, including devices while enforcing compliance with Board policy."
A similar report in November, in Minneapolis, found that that district had lost track of thousands of iPads and laptops.
Woman chided after bringing her pig to Apple Store in Brazil
A woman brought her pet pig into an Apple Store in Rio de Janeiro, where the pig repeatedly defecated but the woman made no effort to clean it up. According to The Daily Mail, customers in the store "could be seen keeping their distance and staring at the woman in shock as she stood near the entrance without showing an intent to remove her four-legged pet's droppings."
The video was publicized after it was shared on Instagram by a Brazilian political consultant, although there's no indication that the woman was arrested or faced any other discipline.
Teen has AirPods stolen after he was followed home
A teen in Solihull in the U.K. had his AirPods stolen after he was followed home from an area train station. Birmingham Live reports the incident took place just before Christmas, and police posted a video on January 17:
Judge releases medical records in iPhone theft that led to shooting
A Florida judge has agreed to the release of medical records related to the June 2023 shooting that was carried out as part of an iPhone theft. According to Naples Daily News, the state had sought EMS and emergency-room records related to the death of a 19-year-old who was shot during an iPhone robbery.
A 17-year-old was charged in the case and pled not guilty.