Crooks Steal $1.5M In iPads From JFK

Serialized? by drkim · 2012-11-15 20:07 · Score: 4, Insightful

Does Apple have a way to not allow these to be used if turned on, or can they track them through some kind of CPU ID code?

Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 20:12 · Score: 0

Apple doesn't care. This will be covered by insurance and they'll still make a profit from those iPads. Bricking them will only hurt the poor schmuck that unknowingly buys one off ebay.
Re:Serialized? by Mr2cents · 2012-11-15 20:18 · Score: 5, Interesting

But maybe the police does care to catch the criminals involved...

--
"It's too bad that stupidity isn't painful." - Anton LaVey
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 20:24 · Score: 0

But maybe the police does care to catch the criminals involved...
Maybe they can, I dunno, do some police work, then?
Re:Serialized? by wvmarle · 2012-11-15 20:33 · Score: 2

Not likely they're being put up for sale on e-bay: to easy to track back who it comes from. You can count on it being sold as "fallen off a truck".
And Apple is possibly not even hit by this theft directly: they may be the manufacturer of the devices, but that doesn't mean that they still owned the lot that has been stolen.
That said, the serial numbers are most definitely known by the people who owned the lot. When one of those appears on the market they will be instantly able to tell it's one of that lot. So also no warranty or anything any more.
Re:Serialized? by evil_aaronm · 2012-11-15 20:50 · Score: 2, Funny

And maybe unicorns shit rainbows. /* I'm not harshing you, just police. */
Re:Serialized? by jhoegl · 2012-11-15 21:01 · Score: 5, Informative

The insurance companies care as well.
Re:Serialized? by houghi · 2012-11-15 21:11 · Score: 2, Insightful

What they can do is blame terrorists (It happened at an airport, so it must be terrorists) and then ask for a law that enables police to ask anybody to identify themselves and hand over your phone for inspection.

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Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 21:38 · Score: 0

Apple won't be taking that loss. It's the freight company's insurance underwriter who'll have to cover it.
Re:Serialized? by flimflammer · 2012-11-15 22:24 · Score: 1

That said, the serial numbers are most definitely known by the people who owned the lot. When one of those appears on the market they will be instantly able to tell it's one of that lot. So also no warranty or anything any more.
Which really sucks for the quite many unknowing individuals buying one of these.
Re:Serialized? by Joce640k · 2012-11-15 22:30 · Score: 1

If you buy iPad minis from people in gas stations you're not really "unknowing", are you?

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Re:Serialized? by flimflammer · 2012-11-15 22:40 · Score: 1

Yes, because they truly only sell these kinds of things at gas stations.
Re:Serialized? by rikkards · 2012-11-15 22:57 · Score: 1

Yep Serial number is engrained in it. And they can track who actually has it by the IP of the host machine when it connects to iTunes. Idiot buys new hardware nowadays. If people track the serial numbers of your hardware and report it to them they can disable it and potentially find it. Guaranteed they will be this time.
Re:Serialized? by Joce640k · 2012-11-15 23:32 · Score: 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7h5nqhHbua4

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Re:Serialized? by jamesh · 2012-11-15 23:56 · Score: 2, Interesting

And Apple is possibly not even hit by this theft directly
They are hit directly, but not like you think. Firstly, someone is now out a few boxes of iPads, so they have to be replaced. More money for Apple. Also, assuming these iPads get sold and the new "owners" start buying apps, there are now even more app sales. Even more money for Apple.
It might be in the insurers interest to brick these stolen devices and make them unusable, but it's not in Apples interest.
Re: Serialized? by Relayman · 2012-11-16 00:03 · Score: 1

You're talking about Amazon, not Apple. Please read before posting.

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Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 00:14 · Score: 0

"And Apple is possibly not even hit by this theft directly: they may be the manufacturer of the devices, but that doesn't mean that they still owned the lot that has been stolen."
Are you kidding? These gangs are paid by apple to steal them, then the vendor has to order new ones.
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 00:35 · Score: 0

It would be odd for Apple or the freight company to insure these shipments. When shipping so many units you can calculate how many will get lost and you should cover the loss rate yourself. This would be cheaper, if it wouldn't be cheaper then the insurance company would be making a loss.
I do this with notebooks myself, since I buy once every few years, I will cover my own repairs and losses, instead of insuring. Because insuring can costs as much as 1/3 of the price of the notebook per year.
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:15 · Score: 0

How stupid can you get?
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:19 · Score: 0

Uhh, what? Did you think about that before you typed it? Even if Apple didn't press charges they would be investigating and detaining suspects if they found any.
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:20 · Score: 0

Obviously meant to respond to the parent of the comment I posted to. Irony :(
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:47 · Score: 0

No no no, they were incited by someone who made a video. It was not terrorism, nothing to see here, please move along. Drop your paycheck at the door on the way out. We'll take good care of you and tell you what to think.
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:58 · Score: 1, Interesting

Talk to the government, it's a well known fact that most robbery rings operating out of airports are run by the TSA.
http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/investigators&id=7447038
http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=266573
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/convicted-tsa-officer-reveals-secrets-thefts-airports/story?id=17339513
etc.
Re:Serialized? by mark-t · 2012-11-16 01:58 · Score: 1

The poor shmuck who buys it off ebay would still be buying stolen property. Sucks to be him (or her), but it shouldn't matter at all if they will be hurt. Buyers don't have many protections against the risk of purchasing stolen goods other than the ability to rightfully sue who they bought it from, even if the goods were sold "as-is". That a buyer didn't know something was stolen before buying it entitles them to exactly zip.

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Re:Serialized? by mark-t · 2012-11-16 02:00 · Score: 3, Insightful

The insurer could make it in Apple's interest by raising the cost of insurance if they don't have provisions to do this.

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File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Re:Serialized? by gr3yh47 · 2012-11-16 02:16 · Score: 1

Yep Serial number is engrained in it. And they can track who actually has it by the IP of the host machine when it connects to iTunes.
No, No they cannot. They can figure out who has it if someone logs into iTunes, but an IP does not identify a person.

If people track the serial numbers of your hardware and report it to them they can disable it and potentially find it. Guaranteed they will be this time.
What people are tracking and reporting serials? and disabling and finding the device are pretty mutually exclusive. As others have pointed out, Apple will likely prefer making money from app sales on these devices, while some insurance company covers the monetary loss of the hardware.
Re:Serialized? by Joce640k · 2012-11-16 02:33 · Score: 2, Funny

According to Einstein, there's no theoretical limit.

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Re:Serialized? by fast+turtle · 2012-11-16 02:49 · Score: 1

Apple doesn't give a damn since they'd already been paid for them. That's the reason they were being shipped. Cash first, then ship.

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Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 04:16 · Score: 0

I don't, off to ebay and craigslist.
Re:Serialized? by tlhIngan · 2012-11-16 04:35 · Score: 1

What people are tracking and reporting serials? and disabling and finding the device are pretty mutually exclusive. As others have pointed out, Apple will likely prefer making money from app sales on these devices, while some insurance company covers the monetary loss of the hardware.
Apple is. If you buy an Apple device (or anything electronic, really), take a look on checkout - you'll find for MOST stuff, the serial number gets scanned. This is not just for the store - the store's backend often reports the serial number to the manufacturer to activate the warranty as well (if you buy a hard drive, take a look during the warranty check - they often start from the moment you bought it these days).
In Apple's case, they're used for tracking the stuff - each pallet contains X iPads, with the serial numbers all recorded as being from that pallet and who's the carrier. When they're received by the store, their serial numbers are scanned in by the store to indicate they were received and in inventory. When they're finally sold, the seiral number is scanned to "activate" the devices.
It's also how Apple sim-locks the iPhone - if you buy it unlocked, the serial number gets flagged in the database as "unlocked". If you buy it from a carrier, the carrier's scan marks it as "SIM locked". Which is why when you get it replaced, do it at an Apple store and you can often walk out with a fully unlocked iPhone as they don't often scan it to relock them.
In this case, Apple knows exactly the serials of stolen devices. For the most part, Apple would get the money back through insurance, so disabling them doesn't really hurt them. However, should they ever need service, they're not covered under warranty as they're marked stolen - either the user will have to buy a new one, or walk out because once it's surrendered to Apple, they aren't going to give it back.
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 04:36 · Score: 0

Thanks for the link. I burst out laughing when the victim said "...this is so wrong..", like buying obviously stolen goods is so right.
Re:Serialized? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 05:50 · Score: 0

That's the reason they were being shipped. Cash first, then ship.
Unless they were being shipped to Apple stores.
Re:Serialized? by operagost · 2012-11-16 06:58 · Score: 1

That sounds like something police would do: confiscate iPhones when it was iPads that were stolen.

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Re:Serialized? by dmmiller2k · 2012-11-16 07:06 · Score: 1

Yes, but only to the extent it costs them money.

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"No matter how cynical you get, it is impossible to keep up." -- Lily Tomlin
Re:Serialized? by Runaway1956 · 2012-11-16 07:48 · Score: 1

Obviously, we need to explore stupidity further, so that we can develop better theories!!

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Re:Serialized? by Dishevel · 2012-11-16 08:42 · Score: 1

Obama Voter?

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Re:Serialized? by hierophanta · 2012-11-16 10:11 · Score: 1

there are days i believe the entire internet is just such an exploration

First post! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 20:08 · Score: 5, Funny

Sent from my brand new iPad.

Re:First post! by lord_rob+the+only+on · 2012-11-15 21:22 · Score: 5, Funny

This shows that you should really have bought a Android powered tablet ;-)
Re:First post! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:06 · Score: 1

Speaking of, Jellybean 4.2 just became available.
Re:First post! by MachineShedFred · 2012-11-16 01:18 · Score: 2, Insightful

Which you'll be able to install on like 5% of the Android devices out there!

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Re:First post! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 09:03 · Score: 0

CM10 FTW

And The Culprit Is, by Penurious+Penguin · 2012-11-15 20:13 · Score: 4, Informative

...The TSA?
http://us.gizmodo.com/5947330/yep-the-tsa-is-definitely-stealing-ipads
http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/convicted-tsa-officer-reveals-secrets-thefts-airports/story?id=17339513#.UKXz-hLJCPc
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505124_162-57523230/beware-your-gadgets-at-risk-of-theft-from-tsa/
http://www.businessinsider.com/tsa-agents-steal-from-passengers-2012-10
http://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2012/10/06/tsa-agent-accused-of-stealing-100-from-passengers-wallet/
Yeah, I know some of you are wondering WTF all the links, and "does he have a grudge" and so on. Well, suffice it to say my encounter with the scoundrels was double plus ungood.

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Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012

Re:And The Culprit Is, by Mashiki · 2012-11-15 20:30 · Score: 4, Insightful

That was my first thought, that it was an inside job or serious help and an inside job. And to be honest you're not off on believing it either, there's an old bit in criminology where 70-80% of your theft comes from internal sources. Of that 70-80%, 40-50% of those people will steal regardless of whether or not they're going to get caught.
Seriously the entire organization needs to be launched into the sun, it's the only way to be sure.

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Om, nomnomnom...
Re:And The Culprit Is, by Penurious+Penguin · 2012-11-15 20:42 · Score: 5, Funny

Seriously the entire organization needs to be launched into the sun, it's the only way to be sure.
Ha! And you know they'd go straight for the warmest parts!

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Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012
Re: And The Culprit Is, by Relayman · 2012-11-16 00:05 · Score: 1

Please learn how to use the "a" tag.

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If I used a sig over again, would anyone notice?
Re:And The Culprit Is, by ArsenneLupin · 2012-11-16 00:31 · Score: 1

Ha! And you know they'd go straight for the warmest parts!
Actually, these are actually the coldest part. The purpose of the small baggy is to keep the marbles away from the body heat, because they produce more and better cream when slightly cooler than the body.
Re:And The Culprit Is, by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 02:28 · Score: 0

Yeah, I know some of you are wondering WTF all the links, and "does he have a grudge" and so on. Well, suffice it to say my encounter with the scoundrels was double plus ungood.
Things get worse when you're a foreigner on a flight back home, getting out of the country. They know that it will cost you a thousand dollars to return to the US just to complain about some missing items from your luggage.
So they steal. A lot. And I bet that they look at each other while doing that and say "screw it, they're foreigners". And I am sure that this is what their supervisors say too.
Re:And The Culprit Is, by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 02:47 · Score: 0

small baggy
Speak for yourself!
Re:And The Culprit Is, by LoRdTAW · 2012-11-16 03:11 · Score: 5, Interesting

TSA has nothing to do with freight, they are responsible for the safety of the travelling public. US customs handles freight shipments into and out of the country. But I doubt it was them. Most of the freight comes into warehouses located on the outskirts of the airport off the Nassau expressway at the end of Rockaway blvd. I lived 5 minuted from JFK and know numerous people who worked in and around JFK, luggage handlers, truck drivers, warehouse workers, customs agent, freight company managers etc.
The best insight into freight theft came from a retired truck driver I know. Basically nearly all of the theft is committed by employees, managers and owners of the cargo companies. There are hijackings and sometimes a trailer is stolen but those are few and far between. The stories he told me (he was part of the theft problem, he wasn't ashamed about it) were often simple and mundane.
Stealing HP computers bound for Israel? Open the boxes, take computers out, replace with rocks and deliver to airport. Unhappy Jewish person gets a box of rocks.
How to steal 10 Playstation 2's (on launch day no less) bound for Best Buy's distribution center? Freight company stupidly hands him security seal to put on trailer door, he puts on seal but doesn't let it lock, freight employee is fooled and signs off. Stop truck remove a bunch of PS2's put seal back on trailer and actually let it lock. Best Buy stumped that PS2's were stolen en-route when seal was locked and signed off. They search trailer for holes or tampering but none found. Gets away with it and hocks PS2's for $800 each.
Steal designer cloths? Many college kids get part time jobs at clothing stores, usually lazy or ignorant of shipments. He steals 2 boxes from a shipment of 20 boxes. Clueless college kid receives 18 boxes, doesn't count them and signs for 20 boxes.
Designer hand bag shipment stored at warehouse? Company owner makes entire skid disappear from warehouse over night. Blames employees for theft.
The list could go on but those were the stories I remember. And it wasn't only him but many others who stole: warehouse workers, truck drivers, managers, bosses/owners. You name it, they stole it. So no doubt it was an inside job.
Re:And The Culprit Is, by Gilmoure · 2012-11-16 04:51 · Score: 2

In high school, one summer, I worked at a small department store. Seemed like more stuff walked out the back then out past the registers. Funny thing was, the manager would tell us (stock room) he was having stuff delivered for him personally and at end of day, would bring his truck around and decide what was his delivery. At end of month, he'd get upset at shrinkage and change procedures and such. Don't know if he realized a lot of the stock guys, including the manager, were also walking stuff out the back.

--
I drank what? -- Socrates
Re:And The Culprit Is, by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 06:20 · Score: 0

When I read the title "Crooks Steal $1.5M in iPads From JFK", my first thought was "how do they know it were crooks?"
But yeah, if it is the TSA...
Re:And The Culprit Is, by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-17 03:32 · Score: 0

> TSA has nothing to do with freight, they are responsible for the safety of the travelling public.
I hope there are measures in place to stop terrorists hiding in freight containers, escaping in-flight, hi-jacking the plane........

What is it Obi Wan? by Provocateur · 2012-11-15 20:15 · Score: 5, Funny

I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of hipster voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. I fear something terrible has happened.

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Bad luck by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 20:18 · Score: 0

Get shot my magic bullets, then have $1.5M worth of iPads stolen. That's rough.

My God.. by mumblestheclown · 2012-11-15 20:26 · Score: 5, Insightful

That's like 9 ipads.

Re:My God.. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 20:41 · Score: 1

They were "minis"...so it's more like 12
Re:My God.. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 02:55 · Score: 5, Funny

The **AA said it was just one, but it had some movies and music in it.
Re:My God.. by jkiller · 2012-11-16 03:14 · Score: 0

The **AA said it was just one, but it had some movies and music in it.
Mod this funny. Please.
Re:My God.. by Gilmoure · 2012-11-16 04:42 · Score: 1

*golf clap*

--
I drank what? -- Socrates
Re:My God.. by Synerg1y · 2012-11-16 05:49 · Score: 1

Win!

Sooo... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 20:29 · Score: 0

Is it bad to hope for them to just destroy them?

Goodfellas? That's funny ... by boudie2 · 2012-11-15 20:31 · Score: 1, Funny

Tommy DeVito: [it becomes quiet] Funny how? What's funny about it? Anthony Stabile: Tommy no, You got it all wrong. Tommy DeVito: Oh, oh, Anthony. He's a big boy, he knows what he said. What did ya say? Funny how? Henry Hill: Jus... Tommy DeVito: What? Henry Hill: Just... ya know... you're funny. Tommy DeVito: You mean, let me understand this cause, ya know maybe it's me, I'm a little fucked up maybe, but I'm funny how, I mean funny like I'm a clown, I amuse you? I make you laugh, I'm here to fuckin' amuse you? What do you mean funny, funny how? How am I funny? Henry Hill: Just... you know, how you tell the story, what? Tommy DeVito: No, no, I don't know, you said it. How do I know? You said I'm funny. How the fuck am I funny, what the fuck is so funny about me? Tell me, tell me what's funny! Henry Hill: [long pause] Get the fuck out of here, Tommy! Tommy DeVito: [everyone laughs] Ya motherfucker! I almost had him, I almost had him. Ya stuttering prick ya. Frankie, was he shaking? I wonder about you sometimes, Henry. You may fold under questioning.

At first I thought... by blind+biker · 2012-11-15 20:41 · Score: 4, Insightful

I thought it was the TSA itself - but the iPad Mini is rather new, for the TSA to have stolen that many of them since launch, at least at a single airport.

--
"The agriculture ministry is not in charge of Gundam" - Japanese ministry official.

Re:At first I thought... by Penurious+Penguin · 2012-11-15 21:11 · Score: 0

When in doubt, blame the TSA; because when you're certain, you're probably being Tased.
- Tricksters Seizing Apples

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Forward! -- Emperor Norton, 2012

More human stupidity? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 20:57 · Score: 5, Interesting

They steal 1.5 mil worth of hardware, top of the shelf stuff? How are they going to sell it? In a year, hell, half a year, their value will go down by half. Soon after, another version will appear.

Of all the stuff that passes through an airport, THAT's what they stole? The police have it easy, people who worked in that area the past three days and the past 5 years, then reduce that batch by seeing who the idiots are.

Of course, if it's the TSA who probably have access everywhere, it will blow into an enormous scandal.

Re:More human stupidity? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 00:21 · Score: 0

The 2..3 000 slave pads are allready travelling to some "friendly" country, they'll probably get 200$/unit in Brazil, Colombia or Guinea Equatorial...
Or maybe they are still in the same area just relabelled, and waiting to be forward somewhere...
So minimal risk, serious money, what's not to love (if you have some larceny in your blood...)
Of course it is immoral it will give a lower entry cost for a shiny piece of junk aimed at increasing your braindead consuming capacity...
People tell that the ipod/pad/phone etc... are "easy to use", when in reallity they make it easy to "consume content" and do about nothing about "creating content"...
So yes they make it easy to use you ...
Re:More human stupidity? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 06:17 · Score: 0

Oh please, the TSA have nothing to worry about. They're the government's baby right now, so nothing bad will happen to them for a very, very long time. If it's the TSA (and my mind is strongly leaning in that direction as is), it'll be quietly swept under the rug, a press release saying "the offending people have been dealt with" (aka: told not to be so brazen next time, no firings, no suspensions), which will be posted hiding on the bottom corner of a newspaper.
You and I both know that not a single damn thing will ever happen to the TSA, no matter how corrupt or broken it is. I honest to god think that they would be able to murder a police chief and get away with it scott free.
Re:More human stupidity? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 07:54 · Score: 0

By shipping them outside of US, is the most profitable way.

Wait... what?!? by cbope · 2012-11-15 21:02 · Score: 5, Funny

What is a dead president doing with $1.5M worth of iPads in the first place?

Re:Wait... what?!? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 22:55 · Score: 0

I don't know how you define "standard pallets" because there are as many types of pallets for different applications as there are forklifts. But let me make the following assumptions.
Let's assume the following:
the ipads were sitting on a blue chep pallet http://www.tcllogistics.com/chep.htm . These pallets can hold up to 2.5 tons of material (I used to have to move around pallets with 2.5 tons worth of stepping stones and garden soil when I worked through college).
forklifts can lift at least 3 tons
1 ton = 2,000 lbs
an ipad mini weights about 0.68 pounds or 1 pound boxed up with all of the materials inside.
therefore a pallet can hold up to 2,500 ipads. 2,000 ipads on a pallet is not farfetched.
Re:Wait... what?!? by dristoph · 2012-11-16 02:24 · Score: 1

Too soon.

And.... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 21:32 · Score: 2, Funny

... not a single fuck was given that day.

Maybe 1.5M of Namibian Dollars by Ivan+Stepaniuk · 2012-11-15 21:38 · Score: 1, Interesting

Otherwise I'm sure that ~4559 iPad boxes (@ USD 329 per unit) would certainly not fit in any standard pair of pallets that can be forklifted.

--
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Re:Maybe 1.5M of Namibian Dollars by unkiereamus · 2012-11-15 22:47 · Score: 4, Informative

Well, I had to take some WAGs, but based on this image: http://assets.ilounge.com/images/uploads/ipadminifr2.jpg and the stated technical dimensions of the ipad mini of 7.8 x 5.3 x .28 inches, I'm guesstimating a packaging dimension of 8 x 5.5 x 1.25 inches. Assuming an ISO 40 x 48 inch pallet, and a stack height of 48 inches (and without running the math for an optimal stacking solution), I make it as each layer being 5 (40/8) x 8 (48/5.5) = 40 units, with 38 layers, for a total of 1520 units per pallet.

Assuming that every one of them was the base model at $329, that would be just over a million dollars (1,000,160) for the two pallets, for the top of the line at $659, that's just over two million dollars (2,003,360).

It's probably a mix of models, and obviously my WAGs are going to be off some, but really, 1.5 million for 2 pallets isn't a wholly unreasonable number.

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Re:Maybe 1.5M of Namibian Dollars by unkiereamus · 2012-11-15 23:11 · Score: 4, Informative

I'm sorry, I forgot to address the weight issue. Per the Apple store, the weight ranges from 308-312g depending on model, and per their environmental report (http://images.apple.com/environment/reports/docs/iPadmini_PER_oct2012.pdf), the packaging weighs in at 333g, I couldn't easily find any numbers for the charger and cord etc, but I'm just going to go hog wild and round the whole thing up from 645g to 750g to cover them. So 1520*750 = 1,140,000g or 1,140kg or 2,513 lbs.

Toyota's bottom of the line forklift (http://www.toyotaforklift.com/product/InternalCombustionCushionTireLiftTrucks/8seriesic.aspx) has a rated capacity of 3,000 lbs.)

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I needed a sig so people would know who I am, but I was too drunk to make something witty, so you get this instead.
Re:Maybe 1.5M of Namibian Dollars by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:13 · Score: 0

Would be a fun exercise to calculate the average maximum amount people were willing to pay per device. If 1.5 mil is based off the retail value, what 's the expected street value?
Re:Maybe 1.5M of Namibian Dollars by Smallpond · 2012-11-16 01:48 · Score: 1

You don't have to guess. Just buy one of the stolen iPads from eFence.
Re:Maybe 1.5M of Namibian Dollars by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 02:45 · Score: 0

Did they need to move a Nokia Win8 phone box or a MS Surface box to get to the pallets?
Re:Maybe 1.5M of Namibian Dollars by guttentag · 2012-11-16 05:10 · Score: 1

FYI. I'm typing this on an iPad mini right now. Exact dimensions of the box:
5.75" wide, 8.50" tall, 1.50" deep

I picked it up at Target two days ago. No forklift, inside guy or fencing operation required.

First Impressions

I've owned an original iPad, the iPad 2 and the 3rd generation. I actually switch off between the two and the three regularly. The three has a better screen and processor, but the two is noticeably lighter and it makes a big difference if you're standing/walking while holding it with one hand and typing with the other, which I do every day. I was initially going to ignore the mini, but when I saw the display in the store I figured I'd take a look. It's so much lighter and thinner, it's like the difference between holding a small paperback book and a larger hardcover.

Regarding Jobs's assertion that they'd have to include sandpaper so you could whittle down your fingers to use it, either he had fatter fingers than I or it was just his perfectionism talking. He must have hated typing on his iPhone. Occasionally my fingers miss "keys" but I'd chalk that up to them being so used to typing on the larger keyboard of my other three iPads. In fact, the smaller keyboard is about right for me to hold it with both hands and type with my thumbs, which is faster and more comfortable than the previous one-handed method.

The thinner bezel on the sides helps make the device smaller without sacrificing screen real estate, and I don't find that I miss it. I don't need that space to hold it. With the regular iPad it's key to gripping it securely because of the weight.

I'd read reports about the screen quality being lower than competitors, but it's not that noticeable. It's not as sharp as a retina display, but the retina display necessitated a larger battery in the iPad 3 to keep the same battery life, which made the thing thicker and heavier. For this size, I'm guessing they went with a display that wasn't as battery hungry to keep the weight down, and if so that was a good tradeoff.
Re:Maybe 1.5M of Namibian Dollars by es330td · 2012-11-16 07:58 · Score: 1

It's probably a mix of models
Probably not, unless these were packaged for the eventual end retail location. If these were destined for a distribution point they would be large boxes of identical units. Back-end warehouse operation is very inefficient if similar items are randomly mixed.

What a pity by silentcoder · 2012-11-15 21:41 · Score: 4, Funny

the thieves didn't steal a container of biological warfare agents instead... it would have been a far less hazardous thing to try and fence.

--
Unicode killed the ASCII-art *

Re:What a pity by Gilmoure · 2012-11-16 04:59 · Score: 1

Apple Police only go after prototypes.

--
I drank what? -- Socrates

So basically 3 are stolen by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 22:13 · Score: 0

Worse they will be reported "sold".

Is this stuff that matters..? by red+crab · 2012-11-15 22:15 · Score: 0

$1.5 M iPads get pilfered from airport...okay..whats tech-worthy here: the fact that stolen goods were iPads, or that the dramatic way in which the heist was carried out?

Re:Is this stuff that matters..? by opus_magnum · 2012-11-15 22:36 · Score: 2

I believe it's a snarky comment on airport security.
Re:Is this stuff that matters..? by flimflammer · 2012-11-15 22:37 · Score: 2

Yes, this eye-opening revelation of yours truly never gets old no matter how many times different people bring it up.
Re:Is this stuff that matters..? by Sulphur · 2012-11-16 01:58 · Score: 1

Yes, this eye-opening revelation of yours truly never gets old no matter how many times different people bring it up.
Are iFellows also geeks or iNerds.

Public Service by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 23:22 · Score: 0

Crooks Perform Public Service

FTFY

Re:Public Service by ti-85 · 2012-11-16 05:22 · Score: 1

+1

MAC Address anyone? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 23:26 · Score: 0

Old news..
These crooks may have been "brazen", they're also pretty stupid....

YApple knows the serial numbers and the MAC addresses of the stolen items and the very first time someone uses the App Store, iTunes or even connects to Apple servers, they will be flagged, the GPS location logged and someone (law enforcement or maybe Apple security) will show up at the location.

To use a car analogy: It would be like someone stealing a car and then trying to register/license it with the Department of Motor Vehicles using its VIN.

And remember, at least in the US, even just possession of stolen property can land you in a lot of trouble, regardless if you performed the actual theft.

Re:MAC Address anyone? by ledow · 2012-11-16 01:02 · Score: 1

Assuming that they end up in a country over which a US court has jurisdiction and don't just, for example, get exported to some out-of-the-way country that would kill for the latest tech and aren't too bothered about whether Apple "supports" their hardware or not.
Wouldn't be surprised if those devices weren't already out in the wild somewhere, in some other country, and though you can block them from going on iTunes, etc. you can't stop them being hacked / used for other things. Plus, the criminals would actually make quite a lot of money just selling them as stolen goods - more than enough to cover their risk - even if they are instantly disabled. No doubt there are some Apple Store hacks wandering around the net already and that store would presumably operate by software sending some unique identifier to Apple? Hack the software, change the identifier, problem solved.
Believe it or not, Apple doesn't run the world, and even stolen goods have a market for them. Your car analogy still holds, though - but do you think some Middle Eastern country's politicians would care that the luxury sports cars they obtained were originally stolen from elsewhere and couldn't be registered in the US? That exact same thing already happens with cars, and a truck full of iPads is even easier to move out of the country without detection.
Re:MAC Address anyone? by drinkypoo · 2012-11-16 01:07 · Score: 1

Also, if you have no legitimate means of support, enough to cover your risk isn't very much... This is why there are so many thieves, there are so many poor.

--
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
Re:MAC Address anyone? by moeinvt · 2012-11-16 01:13 · Score: 3, Insightful

I doubt that the people who pulled off the heist stole the machines with the intent to keep them for personal use.
Re:MAC Address anyone? by Sulphur · 2012-11-16 02:03 · Score: 1

Old news..
they will be flagged, the GPS location logged and someone (law enforcement or maybe Apple security) will show up at the location.
GEheimnis STaats Apple POlizei
Re:MAC Address anyone? by Sulphur · 2012-11-16 02:08 · Score: 1

Assuming that they end up in a country over which a US court has jurisdiction and don't just, for example, get exported to some out-of-the-way country that would kill for the latest tech and aren't too bothered about whether Apple "supports" their hardware or not.
Thank you for your support, I shall wear it always. David Frost
Re:MAC Address anyone? by mark-t · 2012-11-16 02:15 · Score: 1

Mere possession of stolen property will not land you in any trouble at all whenever you have proof that you acquired it from somebody else, and did not steal it yourself. A receipt of sale is generally going to be adequate in this case.
That will not entitle you to keep the stolen property, however. A buyer, regardless of innocence, must surrender stolen property to the authorities at their own expense. The only thing a buyer gets out of it is the ability to rightfully sue the party they purchased it from for their losses.

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File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Re:MAC Address anyone? by L4t3r4lu5 · 2012-11-16 02:33 · Score: 1

Two words:

Beowulf Cluster.

--
Finally had enough. Come see us over at https://soylentnews.org/

foiled! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-15 23:57 · Score: 0

thankfully they got caught real quick because they used iOS Maps for their escape.

LAX ? by vikingpower · 2012-11-16 00:08 · Score: 2

Now where the hell did this happen ? LAX or JFK ? Another great move by the hipster gangsters to conceal their identity.

--
Religous speak to God. Insane are spoken to by God. When all shut up, one can finally hear Shostakovich in peace

Oh, the humanity. by jennatalia · 2012-11-16 00:56 · Score: 1

So, in other words, $1.5M in overpriced electronics.

Talk About Coincidences by Tempest_2084 · 2012-11-16 01:32 · Score: 1

I just saw Goodfellas for the first time two nights ago. As I was reading the first sentence in the headline I was thinking to myself 'Hey just like in Goodfellas' . I have nothing else to add to the discussion (other than you'd think they'd have better security 40 years later), I just thought it was a really weird coincidence.

Old memes never die, they just fade away. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:34 · Score: 1

Came for 'and nothing of value was lost'. ... was disappointed.

Somebody help me out here... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 01:38 · Score: 0

What the heck do ipads have to do with walnuts or maple syrup?

bad plan by slashmydots · 2012-11-16 01:50 · Score: 1

Too bad they hadn't considered that nobody wants to buy them. I hope they enjoy all their ipad minis, lol.

Icepick? by netwarerip · 2012-11-16 01:56 · Score: 1

So instead of an icepick in the back of the neck will these guys get stabbed with a stylus?

Re:Icepick? by Gilmoure · 2012-11-16 05:03 · Score: 1

You're thinking Newtons. They came with a crappy plastic stylus but you could get a nice third party one made out of steel and aluminum. That'll do the trick!

--
I drank what? -- Socrates

horrible by fishingmachine · 2012-11-16 02:07 · Score: 1

if only these things had some sort of built in tracking device

EBAY! by who_stole_my_kidneys · 2012-11-16 02:12 · Score: 1

cant wait to buy one dirt cheap.......

Re:EBAY! by j-beda · 2012-11-16 02:47 · Score: 1

At $500 each, $1.5M is only 3000 devices. An extra 3000 iPads on the "second-hand" market is not going to have significant effect over the average selling price, and unless you personally know one of the thieves, it seems unlikely you'll be able to pick up one for a particularly low price.

You could make... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 02:15 · Score: 0

a mini iBeowulf cluster of those...

Not fenced here? by Grizzley9 · 2012-11-16 02:51 · Score: 1

That would take some time to get rid of that many iPad mini's via a back of a van. Likely they have a buyer(s) possibly overseas that's willing to take them as we found on Reddit AMA there are a few countries where Apple cannot sell except through certain middleman channels. I just don't see two guys selling a current version at a gas station/eBay and being able to move all of those without help (in sales).

Although I do know a bunch of CEO's who would love to save handing out bonuses this year and will find a cheap way to compensate...

Re:Not fenced here? by guttentag · 2012-11-16 05:25 · Score: 1

Likely they have a buyer(s) possibly overseas that's willing to take them as we found on Reddit AMA there are a few countries where Apple cannot sell except through certain middleman channels.
You mean we might end up seeing those iPad minis used as guidance systems for Iran's ICBMs? That would be even better than Stuxnet. They run iOS6 with Apple Maps.

Funny how? by PopeRatzo · 2012-11-16 02:54 · Score: 2

I wanna know, how is this fuckin' funny?

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You are welcome on my lawn.

Our secure airports! by tekrat · 2012-11-16 02:58 · Score: 1

Wait a minute...
We gotta strip search grandmas and children before they get on a plane, but someone can roll a truck into the airport containing *anything* and just roll out again with NO SECURITY?

Then there's the incident with the Jet-skier who ran out of gas and washed ashore at JFK, hopped over a fence and then was able to walk through the airport and wasn't detained until *he* alerted security???

Seriously, next time the terrorists attack, it won't be vai the normal vector of waiting online to go through the naked scanners. The TSA is a complete waste of time, money, liberties, dignity, and human rights.

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If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.

Re:Our secure airports! by Gilmoure · 2012-11-16 05:07 · Score: 1

You must be new here.

--
I drank what? -- Socrates

Quibids! by tekrat · 2012-11-16 03:04 · Score: 1

So, I've just figured out the business model for Quibids dot com. No wonder they can advertise on TV that they are selling Macbooks for $67, and iPads for $19 -- and I sat there thinking, "how the hell do they make money doing that?" ... Well, now I know.

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If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.

Re:Quibids! by crispylinetta · 2012-11-16 03:21 · Score: 1

Well, that's not how Quibids makes money. They make money because that Macbook was not sold for $67, it was sold for $67+$66+$65+$64...$1.
Re:Quibids! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 07:04 · Score: 0

Well, that's not how Quibids makes money. They make money because that Macbook was not sold for $67, it was sold for $67+$66+$65+$64...$1.
Not exactly. It was sold for $67.00 + $0.60*6699.

Albania by tekrat · 2012-11-16 03:11 · Score: 1

You car analogy holds up, ONLY if these devices continue to be used within USA borders. Just visit Albania for an example. Any luxury car you see there is stolen.

These iPads are likely to be resold within China, where property laws are as lax as intellectual property laws.

--
If telephones are outlawed, then only outlaws will have telephones.

Re:a dead president and iPads by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 03:27 · Score: 0

Ever heard of the Texas Book Depository? What do you think the modern equivalent of a book depository is? Right: an iPad. Assassinations always take place from data depositories. You think it's a coincidence that this happened on the same say that Israel attached Gaza? Look up "hardware back door" and "sub space radio." I can't say any more. We're being watched.

D-U-N-S number too by tepples · 2012-11-16 03:33 · Score: 1

In order to make a cluster of more than 100 machines running iOS, you need an enterprise developer license, which requires a D-U-N-S number.

Re:D-U-N-S number too by jackbird · 2012-11-16 06:33 · Score: 1

It's stupidly easy (and free) to get a DUNS number. All you need is a valid SSN/address pair.

Steal something good. by Murdoch5 · 2012-11-16 03:33 · Score: 1, Funny

Wow who cares if I phones / iPad's get stolen. If you steel the under dog technology your not exactly doing very good. If you want to prove a point steel android phones and tablets.

Re:Steal something good. by Gilmoure · 2012-11-16 05:09 · Score: 1

Steel, man. They're made from solid STEEL!

--
I drank what? -- Socrates

Sue seller of stolen goods in small claims by tepples · 2012-11-16 03:34 · Score: 1

The only thing a buyer gets out of it is the ability to rightfully sue the party they purchased it from for their losses.

Is that a straightforward action in small claims court?

How many? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 04:01 · Score: 0

How many iPads was that? 20?

So Judgmental by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 04:27 · Score: 0

You characterize them as "Crooks". I characterize them as desperate people, yearning to browse free!

JIMMYYYYYY! JIMMMYYYYYY! by mike260 · 2012-11-16 04:35 · Score: 2, Funny

YOU SONOFABITCH!

Uh oh by Iniamyen · 2012-11-16 04:46 · Score: 1

Did they have AppleCare coverage on them?

Re:Uh oh by Iniamyen · 2012-11-16 04:47 · Score: 1

Oh wait, sorry, that's not covered. Oh well!

Re:a dead president and iPads by Gilmoure · 2012-11-16 04:57 · Score: 1

They don't have sub-space in Toronto. That's where I'd look first.

--
I drank what? -- Socrates

opens crate of ipads by sighnaps · 2012-11-16 05:29 · Score: 1

actually a crate of mirrors.

Re:a dead president and iPads by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 05:45 · Score: 0

Ever heard of the Texas Book Depository? What do you think the modern equivalent of a book depository is? Right: an iPad. Assassinations always take place from data depositories. You think it's a coincidence that this happened on the same say that Israel attached Gaza? Look up "hardware back door" and "sub space radio." I can't say any more. We're being watched.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGPlCLf9AZ8

needs new tag: pleasetakethemall! by PurplePhase · 2012-11-16 05:48 · Score: 1

Please: take them all!

8-PP

SSN/address for the cops by tepples · 2012-11-16 06:38 · Score: 1

All you need [for a DUNS number] is a valid SSN/address pair.

Which law enforcement can use to track down the crooks that built an iPad cluster.

Re:SSN/address for the cops by jackbird · 2012-11-16 06:50 · Score: 3, Funny

not YOUR valid SSN/address pair.

Why? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-11-16 06:49 · Score: 0

Why is wearing glasses with no lenses in their frames? Is she secretly Superman?

1.5 million dollars by Lucky75 · 2012-11-16 07:46 · Score: 0

So they made off with what, 20 iPads?

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DNA -- National Dyslexic Association

JFK long dead by drwho · 2012-11-16 12:14 · Score: 1

John F. Kennedy was assassinated decades before the iPad was created. I sense a hoax!

Follow up: They now have a suspect in custody. by drkim · 2012-11-17 20:10 · Score: 2

They now have a suspect in custody.

Apparently this Apple thief 'genius' (see what I did there..?) was an employee at JFK and, "asked co-workers for details about the Apple shipment and about where he might get his hands on a forklift."

More here:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57551500-37/man-arrested-for-ipad-mini-theft-reportedly-had-maxi-mouth/

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Crooks Steal $1.5M In iPads From JFK

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