Highway Heist: The Tale of an iPhone Ring, Stolen UPS Packages, and a Drone Takedown

Delving into police reports and news articles, we uncover a series of Apple-related crimes in this edition of the Apple Crime Log. From a UPS employee’s attempt to steal an Apple Watch to a Verizon store scam involving iPhones, and a string of stolen devices making their way from San Francisco to Los Angeles, here are the highlights:

UPS Employee Accused of Stealing Apple Watch

34-year-old UPS package handler Gary Glen Collins found himself in hot water after being arrested on a felony grand theft charge in Riviera Beach, Florida. According to CBS 12, Collins allegedly tried to make off with approximately $2,600 worth of electronics, including phones and an Apple Watch Series 11, from the UPS facility where he worked.

Collins was apprehended after supervisors received a tip about him hiding stolen items under a yellow tote. Upon searching him, supervisors discovered the pilfered packages in the designated hiding spot. His suspicious behavior, such as handling only heavier packages and avoiding smaller ones, raised red flags, as per the report.

An individual from New York was arrested in California for his involvement in a mobile identity fraud scheme. KRON reports that the suspect accessed a customer’s Verizon account at a San Mateo Verizon Store and placed an unauthorized order for two Apple iPhones using the account. He then fled the scene in a U-Haul van but was tracked down and apprehended by the San Mateo Police Department with the help of a drone. A search of the van uncovered various incriminating items, including fictitious identification cards, an ID card printer, and unopened iPhones. The suspect, identified as Jose Simemorales, faced charges of identity theft, forgery, and possession of a document-making device with fraudulent intent.

Stolen iPhones Make the Journey from San Francisco to Los Angeles

During the Outside Lands music festival in San Francisco, multiple attendees reported having their iPhones stolen by pickpockets. Some victims tracked their stolen phones using Apple’s Find My app and observed their devices traveling south down Interstate 5 to Los Angeles. Social media buzzed with similar accounts from other festival attendees whose stolen phones ended up in L.A.

Annie, a 29-year-old San Francisco resident, shared her experience of tracking her stolen iPhone 17’s journey from Sunset Boulevard to Koreatown in Los Angeles, passing through Daly City and South San Francisco along the way. The report highlighted the complexity of pickpocketing rings, with the Los Angeles Police Department fielding numerous reports in a single day but facing challenges due to jurisdictional complexities.

Bail Revoked for Driver in Hingham Apple Store Crash Case

The driver involved in the November 2022 crash at the Hingham, Massachusetts Apple Store, Bradley Rein, saw his bail revoked by Plymouth County prosecutors for violating probation. The violation pertained to his failure to comply with the requirement of wearing an alcohol-monitoring bracelet.

Rein, who drove his 4Runner into the Apple Store, resulting in the death of one person and injuries to several others, claimed it was an accident. However, he faced charges including second-degree murder and motor vehicle homicide by reckless operation. Despite pleading not guilty, Rein’s case remained pending after nearly four years.

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