Apple Heists: What is to be done?

Almost exactly a year ago, we posted about the Apple store heists getting out of control.  There were some unarmed sort-of-security guards standing around outside on the Avenue for awhile, but that mostly ceased about six months ago and was a for-show-only response anyway.  As the local multi-person, grab and go thefts continue, other merchants on the Avenue are growing concerned as are many local residents.  It seems like just a matter of time before someone gets hurt--most likely not in the store itself, but on the street as the getaway car or cars zoom off down the Avenue.  BPD has placed a decoy cruiser outside on occasion and I would guess some patrol has been upped, but it seems incumbent on Apple to do more.  Here's the decoy in place a couple nights ago.

Comments

[Vlad]

what's the new white structure in the area of the broken window? It sticks out a couple feet onto the sidewalk and a couple more on the inside of the store and has a locked door accessible from the inside of the store. I've never seen window repair use a structure like that before.

My fantasy is that it is a 24 hour security guard that sleeps in there but then jumps out when a robbery is taking place and just wastes those bad guys in the act.

[vlad]

Walked by again this afternoon and peaked closer as the white construction walls were backed away from the building. They are just putting in a few very large panes of glass. That's a lot of iphones they have to sell to pay for those.

Let's see how long the new windows last.

[Peter Garrison]

Nine men stole over $105,000 worth of merchandise from the Stanford Shopping Center Apple Store in a grab-and-run heist, Palo Alto police said.

The suspects, who were all described as being in their early 20s, ran into the store at 8:12 p.m. on Wednesday, picked up all the items they could carry and ran outside. Two getaway cars, a Volkswagen SUV and a Nissan Altima, were waiting for the men. They drove east on Sand Hill Road and disappeared.

The thieves got away with 22 iPads, 10 MacBooks, 71 iPhones and 23 Apple Pencils, according to police Sgt. Craig Lee. (Daily Post- Sunday)

[resident]

You have to wonder if it isn't time for the city revoke the Apple store's business license and have the police close the store in the interest of public safety until Apple does something.

[Barking Dog]

Agree resident I have stated the exact same argument here in different post. Those @ 501 Primrose, IMO, dont have the testies to stand up to Apple's security practices. Even if it puts their own residents and visitors safety at risk.

The getaway car is going to injure/kill someone before any of these smash and grabbers do with a weapon.
Apple doesn't care, the cities and police departments that these robberies occur in dont care, nothing will change, if at all even then, until injury or death occurs.

[Joe]

Get ready for the copycat hit on Lululemon on the Ave:

Police arrested five suspects who allegedly fled a Lululemon store in Walnut Creek with a hefty haul — $7,600 worth of yoga pants and workout jackets. They were arrested on suspicion of grand theft, burglary and conspiracy, the Walnut Creek Police Department reported Saturday.

Officers located the suspects at an Antioch gas station after recieving a tip from someone who saw a car fleeing the Lululemon Athletica store in Broadway Plaza, police said.

The same vehicle was involved in a $4,000 Lululemon burglary the week before, police said.

[Joe]

More news today:

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) — An armed man who broke into an Apple store in Dallas was shot dead by a security guard early Tuesday morning.

Around 2:30 a.m. Oct. 8, the suspect attempted to break in to the Apple store on the 3100 block of Knox Street near McKinney Avenue. Police said a witness stated he was wearing full body armor and was armed with an assault rifle.

The suspect attempted to disarm the security guard — a retired Dallas police officer — but was unsuccessful. The security guard was able to pull his weapon and fired multiple times, striking the suspect.

[Jennifer Pfaff]

Do security guards carry arms, in Texas...I guess so. Does anyone know what kind of repair or other is being done to the Apple door? For the last few weeks, it's looked as if maybe there was an accident there or they are changing something on the mechanism and overhang(?)

[RON JEREMY]

Unless you kill someone everything else free game to these crooks..

[resident]

The Dallas incident was 2:30 in the morning. Even on the Avenue if I were working Apple security at 2:30 I'd be carrying.

[[email protected]]

There must be someone who has a connection to Apple.
Just ask for a comment.

[Joe]

While it doesn't apply to the Apple heists that are well above $950, this is an interesting twist:

These brazen acts of petty theft and shoplifting are a dangerous and all-too-common consequence of Proposition 47, a referendum passed five years ago that critics say effectively gives shoplifters and addicts the green light to commit crimes as long as the merchandise they steal or the drugs they take are less than $950 in value. The decision to downgrade theft of property valued below the arbitrary figure from felony to misdemeanor, together with selective enforcement that focuses on more “serious” crimes, has resulted in thieves knowing they can brazenly shoplift and merchants knowing the police will not respond to their complaints, say critics.

https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-prop-47-shoplifting-theft-crime-statewide

hollyroller's comment on another post reminded me to sign up for the daily email from BPD and "crimegraphics.com" which drives the map on the cities website. It's already been enlightening after only a few days. Now I know why above/below $950 are the categories for burglaries and shoplifting.

[Richard Cranium]

It now appears our BPD have taken over the security detail in front of the Apple Store. Anyone know who's flippin' the bill?

[Joe]

I haven't seen anything more than what looks to be a cruiser parked out front permanently. Have you seen an actual officer out there?

[Richard Cranium]

Not referring to the decoy back-n-white Crown Vic that returned to the block a few weeks ago Joe. This appears to be a replacement of the khaki pant, black jacket security service by a uniformed Burlingame police officer. On my past 5-6 weekday drives up The Ave over the last week and a half, I have observed one or more BP officers stationed in front of the store and the lack of any private security.

[Peter Garrison]

Sounds so common sensical... especially if Apple is paying BPD.

[BroadwayGrillClosed]

SF official facing corruption charge
Scheme allegedly involved San Mateo resident Nick Bovis, owner of Burlingame’s Broadway Grill

https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/sf-official-facing-corruption-charge/article_53e1796e-4255-11ea-8cee-bf0cc1569a08.html

[Not The Only Thing Closed]

Check out the stuff in Phil Matiers column today:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/philmatier/article/Fraud-defendants-Nuru-and-Bovis-ultimate-goal-15021698.php#

You have to wonder how he got three liquor licenses since this

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/SF-Public-Works-Director-Mohammed-Nuru-arrested-15010510.php

The high-profile business owner, though, had a criminal past that never came to light during the property dispute, The Chronicle has learned.

Bovis was arrested in 1993 in Santa Clara County and charged with second-degree robbery and use of a firearm in commission of a felony. He ultimately was found guilty of a single count of second-degree robbery in 1996 and sentenced to five years in state prison, records show.