Thieves Clear Out NJ Apple Store In 31 Seconds

theodp writes "An amazing surveillance tape of a burglary in progress at a New Jersey Apple Store shows five perps in masks smashing the plate-glass doors at 2:05 a.m., signaling to the security guard that they had a gun, and clearing off the display tables with the efficiency of a Indy 500 pit crew. The take: 23 MacBook Pros, 14 iPhones and 9 iPod touches in 31 seconds flat. Estimated value, based on average selling price: $46,345. No word yet on whether Microsoft's Laptop Hunters have alibis."

Comments

Amazing?

[sleeponthemic]

I don't know whether my idea of criminality standards are just a bit higher, but when I watched that video I wasn't the slightest bit "amazed" by it. What's so amazing about filling your arms / pockets full of merchandise and getting the fok out of there? I'd like to think that all of us are smart enough to "mastermind" a crime such as that.

That's pathetic! They get dumber every day.

[EWAdams]

Using a gun in the commission of a felony usually gets you extra jail time... and these guys did this for $46,000 worth of gear, which probably has a value of about $3000 with a fence?

If all I'm gonna get is $3000, I might as well... oh, I dunno, WORK for the money and not have the years in jail.

Re:That's pathetic! They get dumber every day.

[Stiletto]

Trouble is, it's fairly easy for even a public defender to get a jury to the reasonable doubt point on the matter.

I wouldn't call that "trouble". That's the whole point of the system. The government SHOULD have to prove something beyond reasonable doubt before they are allowed to force someone into prison (where they are likely to be assaulted, raped, and possibly killed). I thank my lucky stars that I live in a place where, at least in theory, I can't have my life ruined simply because some cop with a grudge thinks I might have had a gun in my pocket.

Re:That's pathetic! They get dumber every day.

[4phun]

My Daddy was a cop. He always told us all, if you are going to steal, steal big, the penalty is about the same.

Good ole Bernie proved this to be true, didn't he. Has anyone ever scored more than he did? He scored big for what, few short years in jail before he dies? All those years living large probably filled him with enough memories to last several life times. Wouldn't those memories make Bernie's time a lot easier to do than the time given to urban ghetto punks like these.

Unemployment in New Jersey 9.6%

[NoYob]

With all those retired folks having lost much of their retirement in the stock market (wtf were retired or soon to be retired folks STILL in the market is beyond me), they have gone back to work: flipping burgers, retail, and other jobs that usually younger folks take - employers prefer older workers because they have a work ethic - usually.. Hence the reason why the unemployment rate among teenagers and early 20 somethings are well into the double digits.

Add in their race, which looks like African American from the video, that adds quite a few more points on to their unemployment issues - for various reasons that I won't get into and which we all know.

Now, I'm by no means condoning what they did: I'm just trying to promote some understanding. When folks get desperate, they do desperate things. Just getting a job, for many, is not an option - especially in one of the worst economies in decades.

There are some doing to support substance abuse, which being an addict precludes employment. They need help.

Now, there's the crowd that does this shit because "it's cool". They're just punks they should get their asses shot off.

Re:No bars behind the glass?

[michaelwv]

Yes, they are concerned. The stores are continual advertisements. Marketing would be horrified if they looked barricaded and unfriendly after hours.