A brazen daylight robbery hit the Apple Store on Fourth Street in Berkeley, marking yet another incident in a string of thefts plaguing Apple retail locations across the Bay Area. On Friday afternoon, a group of thieves descended upon the popular shopping destination, making off with iPhones and other Apple products in a calculated and swift operation.
Exterior view of the Apple Store on Fourth Street in Berkeley, California, showcasing its modern design and prominent Apple logo.
The incident unfolded at approximately 3 p.m. at the Apple Store situated at 1823 Fourth St., a bustling hub within Berkeley’s renowned Fourth Street shopping district. According to Berkeley Police Lt. Andrew Rateaver, store employees reported that a group of at least seven individuals, all identified as males, stormed into the store and executed a well-coordinated theft. Their target: a range of iPhones and other sought-after Apple devices on display.
Eyewitness accounts corroborated the swift nature of the crime. One individual present at the scene recounted observing “a group of kids cut the security cords at the front table of products and make off” with an estimated haul of six iPhones and iPads. The group’s efficiency and speed allowed them to quickly overwhelm security measures and escape before any effective intervention could be mounted.
Following the heist, the group fled the Apple Store Fourth Street location, heading northbound on Fourth Street. Witnesses lost sight of them as they disappeared into the surrounding area. Law enforcement initiated an immediate search of the vicinity, but as of yet, no arrests have been made in connection with the crime. The Berkeley Police Department has confirmed that the investigation remains active and ongoing as they work to identify and apprehend the perpetrators.
Lt. Rateaver emphasized that this type of organized retail theft is not an isolated incident, particularly for Apple Stores in the region. “Apple has been a victim of this type of theft before, not only in Berkeley, but indeed area wide,” he stated. He further noted that the Emeryville Apple store, along with other Apple retail locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, have experienced similar coordinated thefts.
The modus operandi of these groups often involves a “mob scene” tactic, as described by Rateaver. “Two hold the doors, everybody else grabs the phones,” he explained, highlighting the coordinated roles within these theft rings. After grabbing the merchandise, the thieves execute a rapid exit, often pulling doors closed behind them to impede any immediate pursuit.
This recent incident at the Apple Store Fourth Street is not the first time the location has been targeted by thieves. A history of similar crimes reveals a concerning pattern. In November of the same year, suspects stole multiple laptops from the store in another daylight robbery. Prior to that, an incident involving a robbery with a knife was reported at the same Apple Store location.
Going further back, the Apple Store Fourth Street has faced various forms of criminal activity. The previous year saw an incident where a teenager attempted to purchase a significant number of iPhones using a fraudulent credit card. In another audacious act, thieves even drove a car through the front window of the store in a smash-and-grab burglary during the early morning hours. Adding to the list, police had previously sought public assistance in identifying a suspect who robbed an elderly man after he left the Apple Store.
The Friday theft at the Apple Store Fourth Street occurred amidst a busy day for Berkeley police. Officers were also responding to a welfare check that tragically turned into a medical situation and investigating a report of child abuse in another part of the city. Earlier in the day, police resources were also heavily engaged in providing support for the shutdown of a homeless encampment near Old City Hall.
These concurrent events underscore the strain on police resources and the broader public safety challenges facing Berkeley. The repeated targeting of the Apple Store Fourth Street highlights the need for enhanced security measures and coordinated strategies to combat organized retail crime in the area.
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- Berkeley police ask for help to find suspect after iPhone robbery of elderly man (video)
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