Apple Store on Knox Street Keeps Getting Targeted
Within the past month, the Apple store on Knox has been robbed at least four times, police reports show. Tens of thousands of dollars of merchandise has been stolen with thousands more lost in damages to the store. With so many crimes happening in such a short space of time, I’m left wondering if the crimes are connected, if this store is deemed an “easy target” among local burglars, and how long the store can continue to operate with such huge losses. I would think more security would be the most obvious answer, but in at least two of the four offenses, security was present (just unaware) while the thefts were occurring.
To learn more details about each crime, keep reading.
On Dec. 15, at 2:10 p.m., thieves stole six $649 iPhones from a display in the Knox Street Apple. While one thief ripped the security sensors from the phones, an accomplice acted as a lookout at the front door. Witnesses saw the pair flee through the alley on foot and then jump into a blue car and speed away.
That is at least the third time in December that the store has been hit. Police reports say that the suspects committed a similar robbery on Dec. 4, although that incident was not reported.
On Dec. 1, at around 5:45 a.m., burglars broke into the store through the South wall, entering through an adjacent building that is under construction. They made off with 15 Macbook Pro laptops with a combined value of $27,585 and caused $3,500 worth of damage to the wall. A wooden table, believed to be from the business next door, was found blocking the alley behind the store.
On Nov. 18, between 3 and 6 a.m., thieves climbed onto the roof of the Apple store and stole four copper air-conditioning coils with a combined value of $40,000. At least three of the coils were recovered in a U-Haul abandoned in the alley behind the store, but the damage was already done.
Any ideas on the pattern here, or what Apple management should do, short of closing the store, to prevent more losses?
Sounds like they need to over haul their security. Placing a marked security guard or off duty officer only keeps an honest crook, honest. A thief is generally going to stick with easier targets. One would think a posted security guard or officer would elevate your business to a none “Target” status but doesn’t always achieve it’s intended goal. You need other measures in place to compliment the door guards like “man’d” camera systems if they don’t already have them in place. I’m talking about installing multidirectional cameras with zoom capabilities and hiring an individual to monitor and communicate whats seen to the front door guards. And in the case of the Apple store’s recent chain of robberies, you need to be more proactive like hiring a more low key security personnel. I used to do shop lift prevention when I was younger and I never wore a uniform or badge etc. I dressed like a normal ” Joe” and walked around like your average shopper. This afforded me the ability to catch a lot of thieves I wouldn’t otherwise have caught standing around the front polishing my badge and watching the skirts. As for the over night burglaries, install security lighting, cameras, and hire security to patrol the area periodically. I would also develop a program that encourages law enforcement shoppers, discount accessories or free in store down loads. That and boost the crime stoppers rewards to help catch said perps.
Pattern? Go where the money and/or small expensive easily re-sold items are…
Knox Street Apple Store management probably thinks they’re just too cool to have security. In fact, those folks probably just think that getting robbed is further testimony about how elite Apple products are. That seems to be consistent with their overall attitude.
^ You sound like an uninformed, biased jerk, who has never had a second of retail training in your life. Forgive me if I’m wrong. Large chains have budgets through corporate, which are based on month to month profits. They may not have the budget for off-duty police officers require. That expense night after night, day after day will drain any and all profit easily. The robbers will just stay away until you let your guard down. As an employee of the company you CANNOT touch the thieves for liability reasons. In the grand scheme of things, there’s not much you can really do besides keep your guard up and make another place look easier than yours. I work in retail and this is very common. In fact, the Michael Kors bag guy from DSW mentioned in another post is a well known man among retailers in this area. If there was an easy, logical answer, don’t you think this stuff wouldn’t happen?
Oh Boy-
Apple has enough money to hire 10 cops around the clock on Knox without putting a dent in their profit so don’t worry about that.
But I personally think they should move the genius bar to the front of the store and put their items in the back of the store so it isn’t quite so easy for someone to grab a product and run outside.
Sounds to me like this is just the tip of the iceberg compared to internal theft. Apple clearly doesn’t care. http://gizmodo.com/5968284/exclusive-corrupt-apple-store-employees-come-forward-across-america