Man accused of stealing hundreds of iPhones back in custody

Stephen Withers
Monday, 26 May 2008 04:29

Your IT - Mobility

You'd think that Apple's own retail management should well have been watching these devices like a hawk. We can only assume they have dramatically increased security since to avoid embarassing US $130,000 losses in the future.

Surely their insurance company wouldn't be impressed! Interestingly, that affidavit also asserts that the buyer had previously purchased 700 iPhones from the two accused - so why wasn't that loss detected?

Our obvious guess is that the plan was to unlock them and sell them overseas at the previously mentioned large premium, as the initial demand for Apple's handsets had tapered off by Christmas, although demand did seem to rise whenever new firmware was released, unleashing new features to make the iPhone even better - and also when iPhones were slashed in price in Germany and the UK to clear out stock before the 3G iPhone's imminent release.

Clearly, the allure of an alleged inside job for our two intrepid alleged pilferers was too much to resist, but unlike their Genius Bar brethren weren't smart enough to hide their tracks - especially when security footage was in place as it is in any modern retail environment.

Now, Garrand and Nashed, if they are convicted, can learn at their leisure in a US correctional facility that crime doesn't pay, although as Steve Jobs knows, creating innovative technology certainly does!