This week's Apple Crime Blotter highlights a surge in Apple product thefts and law enforcement interventions. In Illinois, a 24-year-old Arizona man was charged with stealing iPhone 17 Pro Max models from a Naperville store. Separately, a group of gunmen executed a brazen armed robbery outside an Apple Store on Manhasset Long Island, stealing boxes of products.

Law enforcement is also investigating thefts at Oklahoma State Fairgrounds involving iPads and a Walmart in Tennessee where a demo iPhone was stolen. Conversely, technology aided crime solving. An Ohio man, DeJuan Davidson, strategically left an old iPhone in his car to track thieves, leading to five arrests.

Similarly, AirPods tracking led to suspects in Texas. In Chicago, thieves utilized Apple Pay for unauthorized transfers. An Alabama man faced charges for AirTag stalking.

These incidents underscore the persistent demand for Apple devices, driving a black market and evolving criminal tactics. Owners and retailers are directly affected, necessitating heightened security and awareness of tracking features like Find My.