A man in handcuffs (Pixabay)
An SEC hack involved spoofing an iPhone, an NFL player’s iPad is stolen from his car, and “porch pirates” are being caught.
The latest in an occasional AppleInsider series, looking at the latest in Apple-related crime.
California man arrested for stealing iPhones after deliveries
A 29-year-old California man was arrested and charged with stealing “thousands of dollars worth of iPhones” from the doorsteps of people who had ordered them.
According to KTLA, Erick Isami Esquivel, 29, of Tustin was arrested after police spotted him “acting suspiciously in a neighborhood.” They found multiple phones, which they suspected were stolen, in the man’s car and 11 more stolen iPhones at his home.
He was charged with grand theft.
Attempted theft of Apple Watch leads to man’s arrest
Dalin Gonzalez-Marte of Philadelphia has been arrested for his part in an attempted armed robbery of an Apple Watch. According to Mid Hudson News, the man followed a victim home, in Connecticut, as he retrieved a FedEx package with the Apple Watch at his parents’ residence.
Sheriff Kevin McConvill of the Sheriff’s Department Undercover Narcotics Enforcement Unit, said that the suspect made “several attempts to stab the victim.”
It’s not clear how the victim avoided the stabbing, but the suspect subsequently fled without the Apple Watch. He was arrested an hour later by New York State Police.
Gonzalez-Marte was arraigned in New York on fugitive charges. As he also has a warrant in Connecticut on charges of robbery, larceny, and unlawful restraint, he was held in custody until he could be extradicted.
Man arrested for SEC hack accused of incriminating Internet search
An Alabama man who has been charged with hacking into the X/Twitter account of the Securities and Exchange Commission to promote a crypto scam allegedly spoofed an iPhone to do it. Eric Council Jr. also is accused of some incriminating Internet searches on the day after the hack.
The conspiracy, per prosecutors, included receiving the personal information of someone who had access to the SEC’s account, creating a fake ID for that person, and using that ID to obtain an iPhone connected to that official’s phone number.
According to Gizmodo, the man’s search history included “SECGOV hack,” “telegram swap,” “how can I know for sure if I am being investigated by the FBI,” and “What are the signs you are under investigation by law enforcement or the FBI even if you have not been contacted by them.”
The man has been charged by the federal government with conspiracy to commit aggravated identity theft and access device fraud.
NFL player’s team-issued iPad was stolen
Conor McDermott, who plays for the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams, had his car broken into near his home, and among the items stolen was his team-issued iPad. The device contained McDermott’s playbook.
CBS sideline reporter Melanie Collins reported on the theft during a game broadcast, adding that the team was able to remotely wipe the iPad with the playbook falling into the wrong hands.
Melanie Collins with next-level reporting about Rams OT Conor McDermott having his team-issued iPad stolen.
“The thief hit five other houses on his street. They haven’t caught the guy yet, but forensics got involved… Sounds like the Rams’ playbook is safe for now.” #NFL pic.twitter.com/tl6hFb0sJj
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) October 20, 2024
A similar theft took place in 2018 when a team iPad was stolen from the car of Roquan Smith, who at the time played for the Chicago Bears. That, too, was remotely wiped by the team.
While Microsoft’s Surface is the official tablet that NFL teams use on the sideline during games, individual teams often issue their players iPads. And game broadcasters have frequently mistakenly called the Surface tablets “iPads.”
Two accused “porch pirates” arrested in Georgia
Two men accused of stealing iPhones off of residents’ porches in Georgia were arrested at a Chick-fil-A restaurant in that state. One of the two men was caught on surveillance video wearing a shirt with the unique phrase “God got me.”
According to Fox 5, the arrest is seen as a possible “big break” in the series of porch thefts in the Atlanta area in recent weeks.
Accused iPhone package thief who dressed as an Amazon driver is arrested
In other porch pirate ring news, a man who police say posed as an Amazon driver to track packages and steal them, has been arrested. The man specifically targeted iPhones.
According to Fox 2, the man used a fake Amazon uniform that, ironically, is available for purchase on Amazon.
“He would somehow get tipped off as to where these phones are being delivered, then he would show up shortly after where the delivery was made,” said Sgt. Ben Hancock, Troy police. “He looked exactly like anyone you would see walking up to your front porch delivering your Amazon package.”
The 23-year-old man, who was in the U.S. illegally, now faces deportation.
A woman in Springfield, Mo., frustrated after Harris/Walz lawn signs were stolen from her lawn on several occasions, placed a tracker on their new sign and managed to catch the people who took it.
The woman followed the track to a house, and it turned out the signs — and more than 50 others — were on the trunk of a car, per Ozarks First.
“Here you go liberals,” the homeowner told them as she returned the signs. The video of the confrontation was posted to TikTok:
Man’s stolen iPad recovered thanks to “buy-bust operation
An Ohio man had an iPad stolen in August after arranging to sell it at an in-person meeting. But in October it was recovered, thanks to the efforts of four different law enforcement agencies.
According to Cleveland 19, the stolen iPad was listed for sale on Facebook Marketplace. So law enforcement — including Medway DEA, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, and police from both Doylestown and Norton — joined forces to meet the seller. This resulted in two arrests, although only one person has been charged.