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Did Apple Impersonate Police To Recover the Lost iPhone 5?

Posted by Soulskill on from the yes-no-maybe dept.

zacharye writes "This whole lost iPhone 5 prototype story just got whole lot more interesting. According to SF Weekly, six investigators claiming to be members of the San Francisco police department descended upon one Bernal Heights, San Francisco man's home in search of a lost iPhone 5 prototype that CNET originally reported had been left in a bar. The scary part? The SFPD does not seem to be aware of such an investigation. Instead, it appears as though they may have actually been members of Apple's security team allegedly impersonating police officers." So far this claim seems to be developing solely through media communications; in order for the SFPD to start an investigation, the man whose house was searched would need to speak with the police directly. Update: 09/03 12:14 GMT by S : A later report indicates police were present, but they stood outside while Apple employees searched the house. No police report was filed because Apple wanted it kept a secret.

9 of 233 comments (clear)

  1. None of it ever happened. Marketing Hype. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    There's a reason the SFPD doesn't know about it. It never happened. The entire incident, from the loss to the "search" is a story designed to generate hype for the iPhone 5.

    1. Re:None of it ever happened. Marketing Hype. by KDR_11k · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Would Apple really need such a stunt to get publicity for the next version of iProduct? People will line up around the whole block the moment Apple announces an iPhone 5.

      --
      Justice is the sheep getting arrested while an impartial judge declares the vote void.
  2. Apple markets them as by cyberchondriac · · Score: 5, Funny

    iPigs

    --

    Look back up at my post, now look back down, you're on the Internet. Now look back up. I'm a signature.
  3. What really happened... by csumpi · · Score: 3, Interesting

    - this Apple employee "lost" an iPhone5 at a bar
    - this undercover Apple employee "found it" and listed it on craigslist
    - this undercover Apple employee bought it for $200
    - this Apple employee in a uniform picked it up
    - the whole internet ran wee-wee-wee silliness about it

    It's all part of the hype machine's advertising campaign. You guys have all been fooled.

  4. Re:"Impersonate" is probably too strong by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Insightful

    He's claiming that they said they were SFPD. If they said that, or even suggested it, then there's a strong claim for criminal trespass. Privilege to enter a house cannot be gained through deception.

  5. There's no *official* investigation... by _0xd0ad · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The number they gave him was of an Apple employee whose title is "senior investigator" and who previously worked for the San Jose PD.

    Maybe they were real cops. Maybe he called in an unofficial favor...

    1. Re:There's no *official* investigation... by Jah-Wren+Ryel · · Score: 3, Funny

      This is any better or actually any different?

      It is actually worse. When an off-duty cop gets hired to work for a private employer they should not have any privileges that normal private security would have - i.e. none. Anything else is abuse of power. Sadly, that's not the way it works in the US where off-duty cops get all the privileges and protections that on-duty cops get. I had a friend who was assaulted by a bouncer at a bar - she hit him back and got charged with assaulting an officer because he was an off-duty, out of uniform cop moonlighting as a bouncer.

      --
      When information is power, privacy is freedom.
  6. Re:No, Apple is WAY more powerful than the SFPD by elrous0 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is Apple we're talking about. No one will do shit about it.

    And I'm being serious in that part.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
  7. Re:That's thilly.... by KingAlanI · · Score: 4, Insightful

    yes, many gays still act like males. (likewise for lesbians that actually act like females.) what a concept. :P

    --
    I listen to both RIAA and non-RIAA stuff if I like the music, tangential business/politics nonwithstanding.