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Apple Devices At California Repair Center Keep Calling 911

Since October 2017, Apple has made around 1,600 false alarm 911 calls from a distribution site in Elk Grove. "We've been seeing these calls for the last four months from Apple," said police dispatcher Jamie Hudson. "We're able to see quickly where the call is coming from, so when we get one from Apple, the address will come up with their location." CBS Sacramento reports: On average, Elk Grove Police say they've received 20 accidental 911 calls a day from Apple, roughly 1,600 calls since October. Hudson says the calls take valuable seconds away from calls that could be real life-and-death emergencies. "The times when it's greatly impacting us is when we have other emergencies happening and we may have a dispatcher on another 911 call that may have to put that call on hold to triage the incoming call," he said. The calls are all coming from an Apple repair and refurbishing center off Laguna Boulevard. The Sacramento County Sheriff's Department Communication Center is also getting these calls -- 47 since January 1. Dispatchers there say they sometimes hear technicians working in the background. Apple hasn't confirmed which of their devices is actually causing these calls: the iPhone or Apple watch, but both devices can be triggered easily. With just a touch of a button, SOS comes on and 911 is called.

2 of 88 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Isn't there a law? by mysidia · · Score: 4, Interesting

    There surely are laws about falsely calling 911 repeatedly? If so, do what the law says, fine them, throw them in jail.

    What they need to do is next time a false 911 call comes in.... do a dispatch, send a team to the facility.
    Rope it off. Detain all persons present in the building for questioning.. Nobody may enter or leave this building, until the exact device that made the call is identified

    Investigate, make sure the call was false, identify the device.

    Seize the device into police custody.

    Seize all similar iPhones or smart Watches present and put them into evidence.

    Start interviewing witnesses in search for the person who made the false call. If no person could be found, find the highest ranking manager in control over that location and begin arraignment proceedings for false 911 calls.

  2. Box is faulty by u19925 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    The iPhone8+ box is too tight. So the power button is getting partially pressed and when you move the box around, it can accidentally get pressed few times in quick succession triggering emergency call. It happened with Apple employee when I bought my phone and happened with me once at home as well.