Thieves Tunnel Through Coffee Shop Wall to Steal Half-Million in Apple Products

The Skinny:

• Thieves tunnel through a bathroom wall of Seattle Apple store and steal $500,000 worth of merchandise including iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.
• Retail theft has become a growing issue nationwide with Walmart stores being forced to close in Portland due to rampant shoplifting.
• Prosecutor in Multnomah County Oregon is only prosecuting 46% of misdemeanor theft cases, resulting in local stores not even bothering to report shoplifting.

What Happened?

It’s almost unbelievable that the infamous tunnel-digging scene from Shawshank Redemption has become a reality in Seattle. A group of sophisticated thieves made off with half a million dollars worth of Apple products from the Seattle Apple store by tunneling their way through a bathroom wall. This seems to be a well-thought-out crime that resulted in the thieves being able to get away without leaving any fingerprints behind.

According to a report by the Daily Mail, the thieves cut open a hole from the coffee shop’s bathroom into the store’s storage area and stole around 436 iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. This incident highlights the growing problem of retail theft across the country.

Retail theft has increasingly become a massive problem nationwide. According to recent statistics, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused an increase in unemployment rates, leading to a rise in theft and other crimes. In March, all of the Walmarts in Portland were forced to close, leaving many to wonder if this was the result of rampant shoplifting. In November, it was reported that one prosecutor in Multnomah County, Oregon, is only prosecuting 46% of misdemeanor theft cases, where shoplifting had gotten so bad that many local stores didn’t even bother calling the police to report it.

What It Means

The Seattle Apple store burglary is just one of many similar incidents across the country. In December, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon warned that if laws that took a more lenient approach to fighting crime were not addressed, then prices would be higher, and/or stores would close. On Black Friday, an Apple store in San Francisco was the victim of a “smash-and-grab” operation that was caught on camera, resulting in the thieves making off with over $35,000 in merchandise.

Clear Thoughts

It’s clear that retail theft is a growing problem that needs to be addressed. While there’s no one solution, there are steps that can be taken to deter criminals. For example, stores could invest in better security systems, increase the number of security personnel, and work more closely with local law enforcement to identify and apprehend criminals. Additionally, lawmakers could consider tougher penalties for those convicted of retail theft, and work to address underlying issues like unemployment and poverty.

The Seattle Apple store burglary serves as a wake-up call for retailers and law enforcement across the country. We need to find solutions to stop retail theft, and it starts with acknowledging the problem and working together to find effective solutions. By taking steps to improve security, increase penalties for theft, and address underlying issues, we can make our stores and communities safer and more prosperous for everyone.

Source: The Post Millennial

Historical Similarities

In 1972, a group of thieves broke into a Philadelphia FBI office and stole files related to the agency’s surveillance of political activists. The group, which called themselves the Citizens’ Commission to Investigate the FBI, then leaked the files to the media, exposing the FBI’s illegal activities and the extent of its surveillance of American citizens.

The burglary, which was one of the most significant breaches of government security in U.S. history, led to major reforms within the FBI and prompted Congress to investigate the agency’s actions. The Citizens’ Commission remained anonymous for years, until the members came forward in 2014 and revealed their identities. The incident was later depicted in the 2014 documentary film “1971.”

The Full Story of The FBI Burglary in 1971

In March of 1971, a group of activists, calling themselves the Citizens’ Commission to Investigate the FBI, broke into a Philadelphia FBI office and stole files that revealed the agency’s illegal activities and the extent of its surveillance of political activists. The group was made up of eight individuals who were motivated by their belief that the FBI was violating the civil liberties of American citizens.

The group planned the burglary for months, using their knowledge of the building’s layout and security measures to carefully plan their entry and exit. They entered the building on the night of March 8, 1971, using a lock-picking kit to gain entry. Once inside, they stole more than 1,000 files, which they then leaked to the media.

The files revealed that the FBI was engaged in a program called COINTELPRO, which was designed to infiltrate and disrupt political organizations that the agency deemed “subversive.” The program targeted a wide range of groups, including civil rights activists, anti-war protestors, and the Black Panther Party.

The documents also showed that the FBI was engaged in illegal wiretapping and surveillance of American citizens, without any proper legal authorization. This revelation caused a public outcry and led to a major investigation by Congress.

The Citizens’ Commission remained anonymous for years, until 2014 when five of the eight members revealed their identities in a documentary film called “1971.” The film shows the group’s careful planning and execution of the burglary, as well as the aftermath of the leak and the impact it had on the FBI.

The burglary and subsequent leak of the FBI files had a significant impact on the agency and the nation as a whole. The revelations about the FBI’s illegal activities and the extent of its surveillance of American citizens led to major reforms within the agency, including the creation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which established a legal framework for the government’s surveillance activities.

The burglary also sparked a national conversation about civil liberties and government surveillance, which continues to this day. It has been cited as a major inspiration for Edward Snowden, who leaked classified information about the National Security Agency’s surveillance programs in 2013.

The Citizens’ Commission’s actions were controversial and illegal, and some criticized the group for their methods. However, others saw their actions as a necessary response to the government’s violations of civil liberties and the lack of accountability for those violations.

The 1972 burglary of the FBI office in Philadelphia by the Citizens’ Commission to Investigate the FBI was a significant event in American history. The group’s theft of FBI files and subsequent leak to the media revealed the agency’s illegal activities and the extent of its surveillance of American citizens. The event sparked major reforms within the FBI and led to a national conversation about civil liberties and government surveillance. The legacy of the burglary continues to be felt today, as the debate over government surveillance and civil liberties continues.