UK lawmakers target people who play music publicly on trains from iPhone speakers, a notorious prank call from an “open iPad,” and a stalking case involving an AirTag in this week’s Apple Crime Blotter.
The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the world of Apple-related crime.
Man convicted as part of “Grinching” theft ring that made frequent fraudulent Apple Store purchases
The man who prosecutors say led a ring of thieves that specifically targeted intoxicated people in Manhattan nightclubs for theft of their phones and credit cards has been convicted. Julian Pomales led a gang that prosecutors say used the stolen funds to purchase “$420,000 worth of Apple products and other luxury goods,” which were then resold for cash.
The process, per a press release from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., was referred to as “Grinching.”
According to West Side Spirit, the gang would steal from clubgoers and then use the stolen credit cards and phones in late-night visits to the Fifth Avenue Apple Store, which is open 24 hours a day. The gang would also flaunt their purchases in social media posts.
Pomales, also known as “Grinch,” was convicted of grand larceny in the second degree, identity theft in the first degree, robbery and burglary in the third degree, and conspiracy in the fourth degree. Two other members of the ring had previously pleaded guilty.
British politicians call for fines for those who play music from phones on public transportation
With lots of cultural discussion about the tendency for people to play loud music and videos on their smartphones without headphones, there’s a political effort to do something about it.
According to The BBC, The Liberal Democrats in the U.K. have proposed fines of up to 1,000 pounds (about $1330) for “headphone dodgers” who play music or videos loudly on public transportation.
There are already bylaws about antisocial behavior on trains, but the proposal is to change the law to “explicitly ban playing music and videos out loud from a phone on trains and buses in England.”
The Lib Dems are a minor party in England, and while the proposal has some support, without the backing of the Labor government, the idea is “unlikely to become law,” the report said.
Son of NFL coach who made prank call got number from “open iPad”
On multiple occasions, including in 2018 and 2024, team-issued iPads belonging to NFL players have been stolen, with playbooks and other proprietary team information on them.
In April, there was another high-profile iPad security breach involving the NFL.
During the NFL Draft in late April, quarterback prospect Shedeur Sanders received a prank call from someone claiming to represent an NFL team who was drafting him, amid Sanders’ multi-day draft slide. Involved in the prank, per ESPN, was Jax Ulbrich, the 21-year-old son of Atlanta Falcons assistant coach Jeff Ulbrich.
Jax said that he had gotten Sanders’ phone number from an “open iPad” in his father’s home.
While there’s been no talk of any criminal charges related to the obtaining of the phone number, the Falcons and the older Ulbrich were both fined six-figure amounts by the NFL. The younger Ulbrich, who does not work for an NFL team, was not fined, although he did apologize to Sanders.
Indiana man charged with stalking in AirTag case
A person attaching an AirTag to another person’s car, for stalking, has become such a frequent occurrence that the state of Ohio recently banned the practice.
There was another such case in neighboring Indiana in late April, although this one was twistier than most.
Per WEVV, it started when a woman received a “Unknown AirTag Detected” alert, not long after going to eat and noticing a woman walking around her car. The next day, a man she didn’t know showed up at her home and “removed a black magnetic box containing the tracking device from her vehicle.”
It turned out that the woman she had seen at the restaurant had a protective order against the man. That woman noticed that he had been tracking her with an AirTag, and put the device on a different vehicle to throw the man off.
Police got a warrant and searched the man’s home, where they discovered “a gun, some meth, psychedelic mushrooms, and an Apple AirTag.” He’s been charged with several crimes, including drug possession, stalking violations, possessing a firearm as a felon, and unlawful surveillance.
Florida’s state legislature has passed a measure that will establish steeper penalties for those who use AirTags or similar devices in the commission of “dangerous crimes.”
According to Florida Politics, the bill would enhance penalties for “nefariously using tracking technology to commit or facilitate crimes of murder, kidnapping, human trafficking, domestic violence, and 22 other transgressions.” It passed both houses of the legislature unanimously and is awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.
AirPods tracked to “massive stash” of stolen goods, including beloved guitar
Police in Lawrence, Kan., received a call about a stolen pair of AirPods, and then followed them to a local motel, where they discovered a stash of “several hundred” stolen items.
Per Local 12, the stolen items included expensive laptops, charging cables, keys, and a guitar of great personal sentimental value to the local musician known as “Outlaw Jake” Lickteig.
Man arrested for stealing iPhones from construction firm
A Missouri man, described by Fox 2 Now as a “twice-deported, undocumented worker,” was arrested in mid-April for stealing 11 new iPhone 16s from the construction firm where he worked.
According to the report, the man was caught on surveillance video entering the company’s IT area and taking the box that contained the iPhones. He took the box home at the end of his shift.
Singer Lynda Trang Dai granted delay in trial for shoplifting Gucci AirPods case
The prominent Vietnamese-American singer Lynda Trang Dai has been granted a delay in her trial, following her January arrest for shoplifting a $330 Gucci AirPods case in Orlando.
Per VN Express, the singer maintains her innocence and is “no longer concerned or anxious.” She claims that she was purchasing perfume and left the AirPods case on the counter, although it ended up among her belongings. She was arrested when she returned to the store the next day.
Judge’s iPhone stolen during cricket match
A Chief Judicial Magistrate in India had his iPhone 14 stolen during a cricket match at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai in mid-April, NDTV reported.
The judge’s iPhone was taken amid the crowd as he entered the stadium for the match between the Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad. A probe is underway.
