London iPhone theft victims have reported threats, AirTag catches a burglar in Pittsburgh, and California prisoners did not receive iPads, all in this week’s Apple Crime Blotter.
The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.
Chicago man arrested in $31,000 iPhone theft
A 34-year-old temporary employee at a logistics facility in Illinois has been charged with stealing $31,000 worth of iPhones from the building.
According to Fox 32 Chicago, the man was caught on security footage entering a trailer, and later concealing the approximately 40 stolen iPhones in a sweater.
The man, who lives in Chicago, was charged with a felony count of theft.
London iPhone theft victims report threats
The city of London has, in recent years, suffered a massive wave of iPhone thefts, with 81,000 reported stolen in 2024 and 71,000 in 2025.
The New York Times reported on May 23 that many of those victimized by such thefts have subsequently received threatening phone calls and text messages from the thieves.
“I know who you are and where you live,” was the message received by a Chicago resident whose iPhone was stolen in London. “I’ve killed or far less than a phone before.”
The threats, the newspaper said, have often been tied to the thieves’ desire to have the victims unlink their IDs from the stolen devices.
AirTag helps catch man accused of multiple crimes in Pittsburgh
A man accused of both sexual assault and burglary has been caught after he stole an AirTag from the victim’s home.
According to CBS News Pittsburgh, the AirTag and $2 in cash were both taken from the victim’s home. Police followed the ping to a nearby location where the man was arrested, while fingerprints left at the scene also pointed to that particular suspect.
He confessed to the assault, but not to the theft of the AirTag. He has been charged with burglary, aggravated indecent assault, and indecent assault.
No, California prisoners were not given free iPads
A report by City Journal in mid-May alleged that state prisoners in California, including some on death row, were given tablet computers. The report states that these tablets have been used by prisoners to watch pornography and for other controversial purposes.
However, multiple aggregations of that report by other media outlets, including one by Fox LA, have erroneously referred to the tablets in question as “iPads.”
BREAKING: Newsom approved taxpayer-funded prison iPads now tied to porn, X-rated chats, and even grooming allegations— while California loses $1.3 BILLION over Medicaid fraud. This is insane. Watch before they spin it. pic.twitter.com/35rrdc5paO
— Next News Network (@nextnews) May 14, 2026
They are not, as the original contract for the tablets was with Viapath/Global Tel Link. A recent bidding process led to a change in vendor to Securus Technologies.
Securus provides Android tablets under the EVOTAB brand. The tablets are not iPads, and there are no reports that Apple has ever been involved in the program.
In addition, the chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep. James Comer (R-SC) called the tablets “iPads” in announcing plans for Congress to investigate the program.
Why are taxpayers providing prisoners in California IPads to prey on women and minors?
These criminals are behind bars for a reason.
I’m demanding answers from Governor Newsom. https://t.co/KqLHj2vzKA
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) May 26, 2026
Gov. Gavin Newsom may not have authorized iPads, but he did, earlier in May, preside over the release of California’s American Innovation Coin honoring Steve Jobs.
Information about “city-managed Apple accounts” was part of a report on Minneapolis Police Chief’s ouster
Brian O’Hara, the Minneapolis Police Chief and a prominent figure during the recent ICE siege in that city, resigned on May 26.
According to The New York Times, O’Hara stepped down following “a personnel investigation into his conduct,” and that “O’Hara had likely deleted a contact from his phone last year while facing a previous internal investigation into allegations that he had sexual relationships with city workers.” However, the report found no evidence that such relationships occurred.
KSTP published the report itself, which found that among the evidence in the “Original Investigation” was “Information from the City’s IT department about a transfer to City-managed Apple accounts on March 20, 2025.”
Man arrested in Florida iPhone theft, fraudulent charges
A man in Florida was arrested on May 17 and charged with stealing an iPhone and perpetrating a subsequent “wave of fraudulent credit card charges.”
CBS 12 reports a victim had approached the Stuart Police Department in December 2025 and reported that his iCloud account was compromised. Over the course of a month, the report said, the fraudulent purchases continued, which included gift cards and other items.
The man was arrested on five counts of fraudulent use of identification, petit theft, and theft of a credit card.
Customer service scam costs Californians $15,000
A resident of Folsom, Calif., told police that they were contacted by phone by a bogus Apple customer service representative.
According to The Folsom Times, the fake rep told the victim about false transactions, and later met the victim and “collected $15,000 in cash.”
Police are looking for a “porch pirate” who took an Apple Watch
Police in Rye, N.Y., put out a call in April to see if anyone recognized a “porch pirate” who was caught on camera stealing a “freshly delivered Apple Watch off the front porch of a residence in a neighborhood in close proximity to the Playland Parkway.”
The suspect, the police department said, “arrived on a motorized scooter 45 minutes after the package was delivered by UPS.”
Bangladeshi actress’ iPhone is stolen
An iPhone belonging to Bangladeshi actress Tanha Tasnia Islam was stolen in mid-May, reportedly by a man falsely posing as the driver for a different actor, Joy Chowdhury.
According to Daily New Nation, “discussions have begun,” in relation to the theft at Bangladesh Film Development Corporation (BFDC), as it took place while the actress was dubbing dialogue.
iPhone “snatched” from candidate for Miss International Queen Philippines
A woman competing in the Miss International Queen Philippines pageant had her silver iPhone 17 Pro Max stolen in mid-May.
The Daily Tribune wrote that the iPhone belonging to Mikay Bautista was “stolen by riding-in-tandem suspects” when she was in Quezon City.
Bautista was first runner-up in the competition, which took place two days after the theft.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
