17 Charged in $1M California Apple Store Robbery Ring Bust

Authorities in California on Thursday announced they have charged 17 individuals in connection with an Apple Store robbery ring that resulted in the loss of more than $1 million.

On Tuesday, seven of those suspects were arrested and booked into the Alameda County Jail, according to a news release from California Attorney General Xavier Becerra. Another suspect is in custody in Sonoma County, and arrest warrants have been issued for the other nine.

The crimes allegedly took place across 19 counties.

"The defendants are charged with entering Apple retail stores in large groups wearing hoodies and snatching products on display in a matter of seconds," authorities said.

One such heist took place on July 7 at the Fashion Fair Apple Store in Fresno, Calif. Surveillance footage from the incident shows four males entering the crowded store, yanking MacBooks and iPhones from the display tables, and running away. The entire heist lasted just seconds, but the robbers made away with more than $27,000 worth of gadgets.

A similar robbery occurred on July 23 at the South Coast Plaza Apple Store in Costa Mesa, Calif. In that incident, a group of five thieves made away $29,000 worth of devices, police said.

The San Luis Obispo and Oakland Police Departments headed up an investigation with assistance from the California Department of Justice eCrime Unit. Local law enforcement agencies in 19 counties also assisted with the investigation.

"The successful collaborative efforts of law enforcement has resulted in dismantling a large criminal ring," Oakland Police Chief Anne E. Kirkpatrick said in a statement.

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