Los Angeles, recoveries, and a grounded flight crew.

In this week’s Apple Crime Blotter, we cover a couple reclaiming their stolen car with an AirTag, a reporter recovering her iPhone through an ecoATM, and the suspension of an entire airline crew due to an iPhone theft.

This is part of an ongoing AppleInsider series exploring incidents related to Apple products and crime.

Looting in Los Angeles Amid Decrease in Apple Store Thefts

On June 10, the Apple Tower Theatre in Los Angeles was looted during protests against ICE raids in the city, which led to National Guard deployment.

As is common in such cases, stolen iPhones sent messages urging thieves to return them.

California has seen several notable Apple Store thefts, including organized rings in 2018 and 2022. A particularly audacious theft occurred in early 2024 when a man sprinted past a police car while stealing iPhones from an Emeryville store.

However, incidents of theft appeared to dwindle in California and beyond in the first half of 2025, coinciding with California voters passing Proposition 36 late in 2024. This legislation toughened penalties for retail theft, especially in cases involving three or more individuals.

London iPhone Theft Leads to Chase and Arrest

In East London, a man stole a woman’s iPhone and fled on an e-bike, prompting a 14-minute chase by the Metropolitan Police, which ultimately led to his capture.

According to The BBC, police utilized the device’s tracking features to locate and monitor the suspect.

Couple Reclaims Stolen Jaguar with AirTag

In another London incident, a couple used an AirTag to track down their stolen Jaguar after police were unavailable to assist.

The vehicle was taken on June 3 from Hammersmith, and when the couple received a vague response from authorities, they decided to find the car themselves. Although the car had an immobilizer code, it failed to work upon recovery, requiring them to contact a software company for assistance.

Law enforcement usually advises against confronting thieves directly due to safety risks.

NBC Reporter Retrieves Stolen iPhone from EcoATM

Ellison Barber, an NBC News reporter, had her iPhone stolen on the New York City subway and later used her work phone to track it to an ecoATM machine.

By using Find My iPhone and teaming up with a camera crew, she traced her phone to a kiosk in a check-cashing store, where it had likely been exchanged for cash. The NYPD successfully retrieved the device.

Suspect on the Run After Stealing 32 Mac Mini Devices

While the Mac mini isn’t typically one of the most stolen Apple products, over $100,000 worth was taken in Memphis in mid-May.

According to WREG, a man impersonated the person scheduled to pick up packages containing 32 Apple Mac mini computers destined for an IT company. He remains at large.

Whole Flight Crew Suspended After iPhone Theft Incident

An Indonesian airline has suspended an entire flight crew following the disappearance of a passenger’s iPhone, which was later tracked to the hotel where the crew was staying. The phone ultimately was located at the bottom of a river in Australia, where the flight had landed.

The story gained traction on social media in Indonesia after the iPhone owner recounted the experience on Instagram. After tracking the device to the hotel, the owner investigated, but a search yielded no results, although the phone eventually pinged from “the middle of the Yarra River” hours after the crew left.

iCloud Evidence Undermines Defense in Road Rage Shooting Case

A man was charged with the fatal shooting of a sports reporter in a road rage incident near Kansas City in January. During questioning, the suspect claimed not to own a gun, but iCloud evidence revealed photos of him holding a 9 mm handgun.

As reported by Law and Crime, the accused, Ruslan Huseynov, contended that the weapon belonged to a friend but could not recall the friend’s name. The deceased, Dennis Sharkey Jr., was a journalist who covered local sports. Huseynov faces charges of second-degree murder, unlawful use of a weapon, and armed criminal action.

Ice Cube Alleges TSA Stole His iPad

Iconic rapper and actor Ice Cube claimed on X that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) stole his iPad.

Shortly after, he posted an update stating that his iPad had been recovered.

AirTag Leads to Arrest of Boat Mechanic

In Florida, a stolen trailer and several boat motors, equipped with an AirTag, led to the arrest of a boat mechanic when authorities followed the tracking signal to his home.

NBC Miami reports that a search of the mechanic’s residence uncovered additional stolen items. He faces multiple charges, including grand theft of a vehicle, grand theft, possession of a vessel without identification, and possession of an outboard motor with an altered serial number.