Skip to main content

Crime wave: Crash-and-grab at California Apple Store latest in string of robberies

A team of brazen robbers smashed a car through the main window at the Apple Store in Palo Alto, California, over the weekend, gaining entry and stealing many of the products on display. It’s the latest in a rash of crimes reported at Apple retail stores in the area. Police have already arrested four people involved, but say they haven’t found any connection with the other cases.

The raid occurred early in the morning on December 4. The criminals used a Kia Soul vehicle to drive along the sidewalk — avoiding barriers next to the road — and smashed through the glass front window. A trademark Apple store feature, the window stood 40-feet tall, and managed to stay mostly in place according to police reports. However, the car made a hole big enough for the thieves to rush into the store.

Recommended Videos

Between eight and 10 thieves were involved in the robbery, based on video footage taken at the store, but only four have been arrested so far. Police also found a second vehicle nearby that contained Apple computers and iPhones. It’s not clear if any of the robbers escaped with stolen devices, and Apple Store staff are checking stock to determine what, if anything, was taken.

The Palo Alto robbery comes after a rash of at least 11 Apple Store robberies in the Bay Area since the end of October, but it’s the first to involve the use of a car to gain entry. The other robberies have been on foot, with many during the day when the stores were open. The video footage from the Palo Alto robbery is unlikely to be released, and police continue to work toward apprehending the other robbers.

Photos of the scene, shared by Palo Alto Online, show the road on which the Apple store is located was closed on Sunday, and that work is continuing on replacing the massive glass window. The store has considerable significance for Apple, as it’s one of the closest to its Cupertino headquarters. Apple CEO Tim Cook made an appearance at the store on the day of the iPhone 7 launch in September.

Andy Boxall
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
The latest iOS update might have reactivated Apple Intelligence features
A person holding the Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Some iPhone users have reported that yesterday's update to iOS 18.3.1 reactivated once-disabled Apple Intelligence features on specific devices. Certain features, like Notification Summaries, had been shut off over concerns about accuracy. Now users are reporting that these features have been re-enabled following the update.

Devices that displayed a welcome screen after updating seem to have a higher chance of these features being re-activated. Reddit user u/Hanthunius reported the bug on their iPhone 15 Pro Max, while others saw the features make a comeback on Mac devices. MacRumors tested this theory, and while Apple Intelligence remained disabled on iPadOS and iOS in their tests, the Mac Mini was a different story.

Read more
Apple is no longer working on smart glasses to rival Meta
Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer smart glasses

It's been a rumor for some time now that Apple had a pair of AR glasses in development, but a new report from Mark Gurman says the company has cancelled the project. Apple has expressed a lot of interest in the AR/VR space, but its first attempt with the Vision Pro didn't make the splash the company expected. Its over-the-top price and more professionally-focused applications led to fewer sales and a lot of excess stock.

The goal was to create a competitor to the Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses, but Gurman says the cancellation comes in the wake of an attempt to change and improve the design of the glasses. The first version of the glasses would link with an iPhone, but its limited power meant applications were limited — and the demands of the device also had an impact on phone battery life. Apple pivoted and focused on linking the glasses with a Mac instead, but that was met with poor evaluations. The development team reportedly dealt with frequently-changing goals, adding to the difficulty, until the project was cancelled.

Read more
Is your child safe from inappropriate apps on Apple App Store? A report says no
App Store screenshot on iPhone.

Apps aimed at children have been available since the inception of the App Store. However, not all apps created for minors are safe to use. This is the main finding of a new survey conducted by two child safety organizations. The report presents the results of a 24-hour research study in which 800 apps were reviewed, and the findings are concerning.

The Heat Initiative and ParentsTogether Action study found that Apple's App Store is a mass distributor of risky and inappropriate apps to children. Many apps have features that put children at risk of sexual abuse and exploitation, low self-esteem and poor body image, disordered eating, exposure to sexual and violent content, and more. Apple claims that the App Store is a safe place for children, but the study found that Apple takes no legal responsibility for the veracity of age ratings.

Read more