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Subscribe to RSSPARIS -- Masked and armed robbers used the New Year's Eve revelry as cover to rob the flagship Apple store in Paris.
The French press reported that up to €1 million ($1.3 million) in goods were stolen at the store behind the Paris Opera house, a figure police would not immediately confirm.
Police said Tuesday the robbery occurred about 9 p.m. Monday, three hours after closing, while police were deployed around the famed Champs-Elysees Avenue where revelers traditionally gather on New Year's Eve.
Christophe Crepin of the Unsa police union said the "well prepared" operation was carried out by four masked and armed individuals.
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The daily Le Parisien reported the thieves entered the store by threatening a security guard at a back entrance.
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The robbers had a brilliant plan:
They threatened him with removing Google maps from his iPhone, forcing him to use Apple's mapping software. The guard capitulated immediately.
The $1.3 million in goods can be found on ebay for $109.45
If that guard was allowed to carry, this would have been a lot different. That is what happens when you take weapons away from law abiding citizens. Let them try that here and see what happens. Hooray for the 2nd! Keep it or this will happen here and we won't be able to do any thing about it.
Why would anyone want to steal so many apples? They must have been voraciously hungry. :)
"...threatening a security guard at a back entrance."
I'd give up too.
That's a lot of Granny Smith apples!!
I really don't understand the logic in this. When they get plugged in for the first time, Apple will know exactly where they are. My wife lost her iPhone about 4 years ago. We called apple to see if they could track it. They said "We know where all our products are, but aren't going to get in the business of tracking them for our customers."
1.3 million stolen, and it only cost them how much to make the stolen goods? 200k u say!
Half Cherokee - This was in France not the US. And it was a "guard", not a random person guarding the store for no reason, so they would be armed. And considering the article says "well prepared", so you really think a guard with a handgun would have stopped four thieves that probably had sub-machine guns or automatic pistols. The guard would have been shot to death, and they would have still gotten away with $1.3 million worth of Apple goods. $1.3 million or $1.3 million and 1+ death(s)? Your pick....
Are they sure they were robbers and not the garbage collectors? After all, they did take apple products.
... after they smashed the windows. Or did the windows spontaneously fail?
" ... If that guard was allowed to carry, ... "
Lol. The Rights answer for EVERYTHING. "If only they had a gun ....."
Well moron. If they had had a gun, yes, this would have been different. The Guard would be dead, and they would have robed the store anyway. Yep. Guns are THE answer to everything.
" ... I really don't understand the logic in this. ... "
I do.
No one I know gives most Apple users much credit for being very bright. So logic to an Apple user is a .....
WOOSH! moment.
" ... so you really think ... "
As an American I can answer that question for you.
In America, people who love guns like this one does, DON'T think at all. Thought of just about ANY kind is beyond them. And the concept of FEWER guns equaling LESS violence is not a concept that they can get their heads around.
So no, this person DOES NOT REALLY THINK at all. Sorry about that. It's just the way it is here.
" ... and 1+ death(s)? Your pick.... "
I can tell you for a fact, which choice this person would make. I know several JUST like them. And that choice would be ....
C) Scores of dead littering the streets.
It's not about "death(s)". It's about their right to own and use a gun. As 20 dead children two weeks ago(?) proves. "You can kill my children. But you will never take my gun."
Sad, I know. But that's just the way it is.
Lets see 20 dead children, killed by a criminal, are you so stupid you compare gun owners to criminal, the 2nd amendment protects your right to run your mouth. Nice job puttin on your thinkin cap. How about you get all the criminals to give up thier guns, then maybe talk to me about me losing mine. This is whats wrong with libtards like you, you actually think the police stop crime, they dont they investigate crime, like after some psycho kills a bunch of kids because his libtard mommy didnt get him the help he needed, but let me guess thats beyond you.
3ric,
The guard was not armed. The gun laws in france are one of the strictest in europe. More so than England in fact. But what this does show is that gun bans do not work. But we don't need to go all the way to France to figure that out as all we need to do is look right next door at mexico.
According to this,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate
France has a much lower murder rate that the US. So, in what sense does a gun ban not work?
Well DUH!!!!
It is obvious it doesn't work if criminals arm themselves with guns and rob an apple store in a country that has some of the strictest gun control laws. Futher more, despite the ban france still has a level that is almost 1/3rd of the US. Gee, one would think they would have none if guns were banned but the stupid libtards seem to forget that the criminals will not turn in their guns leaving everyone else a potential victim.
A gun ban does not ensure that there will be no crime, no murders. It does not ensure that no one will have a gun, legally or illegally. A gun ban merely serves to keep guns out of the hands of a significant number of people. Yes, some determined people will obtain a gun.
The gun ban in France may be a significant factor in a murder rate that is 2/3 less than the US.
We seem to have a glass half full/half empty situation. I see a 2/3 lower murder rate and I say, hey, that's a good thing. You see a 2/3 lower murder rate and you say, that's bad.
Your reference to a potential victim also does not resonate with me. The data points to having a gun as being more dangerous than not having a gun. Are you saying that a gun makes you safer? Do you have any proof of that? Do gun owners live longer than non gun owners? Please explain.
"Armed robbers hit Apple store in Paris, reportedly steal $1.3 million in goods"
What's that, like one tablet computer and 2-3 phones?
Figuring about $500 per unit for sale, that would actually be 2,600 units stolen. Now, even if they were iPhones which are pretty small and come in boxes roughly the size of an average paperback book, that's still quite a lot of stealing going on. That would about fill up a cargo van.
Even with four guys loading up the getaway vehicle, you're still talking about 650 units per person. How much time did they have to do this crime, the whole day long?
Something about this screams "inside job". It's also a good reason to never buy computer gear from anybody but a reputable dealer because if this was a shipment (likely was) then the serial numbers and MAC addresses will be sequential and Apple will just shut them down from iTunes on sight. They'll just cripple the things and then when the customers start trickling in for "repairs" they'll say "really? where did you get this stolen device from? It's ours now. Goodbye. Oh, and please do complain to the cops. We're counting on it."
I don't know if you are right but I do like your logic..
"Armed robbers hit Apple store in Paris, reportedly steal $1.3 million in goods"
What's that, like one tablet computer and 2-3 phones?
This cannot be true. Guns are illegal in France.
HA!
guns are illegal in france?? wow, how did these law abiding criminals get guns then. i thought that once you banned guns...hokem, pokem, smartaleckazam no more gun crimes??
holy geewhillikers, maybe we need to rethink this whole gun ban thing?
You can look forward to seeing the same thing here if Mr.Obama and Mrs Feinstein have their way. Guns cause crime like flys cause garbage
Yes, but no one was killed! All the apples in the world is not worth a single human life... IF the guard was "carrying" he would be the first one dead! For what? to protect a nameless, faceless corporation?
sam cristea.....hey rumplestiltskin, how long have you been asleep? It's already happening here..They probably got the idea from us.. and good analogy ..but flys help spread the DISEASE in garbage...see what I did there? guns =flys....... crime = garbage
Jon Dunn
I bet they were stolen too from the local toy store.
I've known a ridiculous number of people in Europe who carry some serious knives. An acquaintance of mine never left his apartment without his nunchucks! Although Germans rarely carried guns on their person, many of them were members of gun clubs and sharpshooter organisations.
My colleague went to Paris to buy a few of the new iPhones a few years ago and he told me that there were hoards of Russian guys who didn't speak to each other but who seemed to know where the others were in the store. It was a special promotion and only people who had coupons or promo codes were allowed to buy early and at a discount. He said guys were leaving with their pockets full (after paying with their "coupons"), getting into cars that pulled up out of nowhere, and skedaddling in a surprisingly organised fashion. My colleague said that he was afraid to leave the store with his iPhones because he didn't want them to be immediately stolen.
That's because they've had such bad luck with them. See French ads:
"Rifles for sale. Like new. Never fired. Only dropped once."
@denver bill 2
That made me laugh...
" ... Guns cause crime like flys cause garbage ... "
Like having a brain causes .....
Well never mind. people like you don't have a brain. Or if you did have one it die from lack of use. As evidenced by your logic.
" ... flys cause garbage ... ". Not that is funny.
And thus the king of the logical fallacy known as Overbroad Generalization lectures his not-so-loyal Newsvine subjects about logic.
It's time Apple paid their fair share.
C'est dommage.....Apple sells $1.3M every 4.6 minutes.
C'est fromage! Ce n'est que des pommes et des fromages qu'ils volent. :)
Cheese 'n' taters. That's what I wanna hear about.
Berecca,
"Cheese 'n' taters. That's what I wanna hear about."
Finally! I looks like someone finally understood what I had posted there! Only I was talking about apples and cheeses. But cheese 'n' taters (fromage et pommes de terre) sounds good to me. Mmmm... Yummy!
But cheese is much better on potatoes, doncha think? Especially pommes frites. I like chopped and fried Erdapfel with Mayo, too. And then a glass of freshly squeezed Apfelsinensaft. Those French! They have a different word for everything, especially if they're speaking German. (Hee hee!)
Now you're making me hungry, Berecca! Vous parlez des francais qui parlent comme les Boches. Quelle horreur!
At least they had a guard working that late on New Years Eve to let the robbers in.
They'll be found out. Merchandise is tracked by store and then their serial numbers once they access I-tunes or registered. They better sell them fast.
How long do you think it will take obama to blame President Bush for it?
That joke is as old as "That's what she said"
Might be time to try something new.
@TJefferson-3937568
It's in Paris France, not the one south of Chicago.
Pourquoi Obama sur Paris?
TJefferson, I'm sure there's some right wing blog somewhere that would appreciate your "wit" - why don't you go somewhere else?
The guns did it. They tricked the week minded thieves into stealing for them.
A whole lot longer then it took you to blame Obama.
Oops. Sorry. I forgot. Obama is to blame for everything. Even the sun blowing up sometime in the next 5 billion years.
If you are the guy that drove the bus into the ditch. YOU are to blame. Bush drove the bus into the ditch. And now the Right wants to set it on fire.
Oops. I'm sorry. Obama is to blame for the Right throwing the match. My bad. Blame it on the black guy in the White House. It's his fault.
Damn.
must have been some desperate criminals to steal apple products. Life is tough all over the world!
Funny, you never hear of someone knocking over a Microsoft store - why is that?
Hey froggy, how's that gun ban working for ya?
They were probably trying to rob a pharmacy but the apple maps app sent them there instead.
At first glance, it would seem an "inside" job. Quite possibly carried out by some third world immigrants? Where is Inspector Clouseau?
They were armed with champagne bottles. "one move and I'll bust a cork on your ass".
Sounds like a perfect movie plot to me!! The New Year Apples into Cider Caper!
One of the AdChoice ads at the top of the page advertises iPads for $40 and promises to tell you the secret to getting one. It's no secret, just talk to one of those armed robbers. lol
it's all a lie.... guns are illegal in france.
But... but... but... the libs like Feinstein & Schummer want gun laws like France has. This can't be true! How could the robbers be armed, in France?
ROTFLMAO!
Gee... and this from one of those European Union ,NATO member,"enlightened' Countries that has not only NO private ownership of guns as law but also is insisting that the United States disarm it's citizenry....how's that workin for ya 'Mon ami"? don't forget...you still owes us for saving your asses in TWO World Wars...maybe the Apple robbers were armed with "assault berets" or "assault baguettes"....maybe a nice "Assault Bordeaux"...vive La France
How can that be? France has the toughest gun control laws in Europe. No one should have a deadly, evil, assault rifle... except the criminals and the tyranical government.
Everything that is wrong in this world is Obumma Dumma's fault.
Dear NBC -after all the stories about banning guns in America, I hope you have given a little thought to this story from France. Banning guns only removes firearms from law abiding citizens. Criminals could care less about gun bans and ignore them completely. Unfortunately it appears when people lean too far to the left, their brain falls out of their ear. (same is true for those leaning too far right) :D
Well said sir!
How could this have happened? Is there no gun ban in Paris? Oh wait...
Ha! This works on so many levels.
- Apple store? Don't the French know apple season is late September/early October? Should have gone for the citrus store
- Estimated loss is 1 million euro ($1.3M dollars), police wouldn't confirm. Well, "duh!" The exchange rate changes daily
- Threatened a security guard, eh? That cheese-eating surrender monkey. I can get you a good deal on French military rifles though. They've never been shot and only dropped once.
lmfao i cannot stop laughing still...nice
Guns are banned in France? Gee...then how could this happen? OH yea...the BAD guys can get them, but the good people out to defend themselves don't stand a chance. Take heed America!
If the good people (guard) would've been armed he wouldn't be telling the story.
But who knows, the guard might be part of the bad people.
If the guard would've been inside 3 hours after closing time then the bad guys couldn't have "threatened" him for entry. I mean seriously, it's an electronics store (obviously) so what the heck was this security guard protecting? All of the iPads in the parking lot? He's screwed. He is so fired it ain't funny. If you're guarding something then you never leave your post. He wasn't guarding stuff outside.
There was a lifeguard in Florida fired for rescuing somebody outside of his post. You do not leave your post or your assigned area of patrol for any reason. That is totally a cause for justifiable firing. This guard was in a position of trust and screwed up, accidentally or intentionally doesn't matter.
Let's entertain the possibility that he was one of the bad people. Just playing devil's advocate, let's say he was a full partner with the 4 thieves who stole $1.3 Million worth of hot goods. That stuff, being hotter than a 2 dollar pistol, ain't going to sell for a tenth of retail value so they've basically got $130,000 worth of stuff split five ways.
That's a crummy $26,000 per person.
I don't mean that's a small amount of money, but it ain't worth losing a decent job over. Not if you think about it. Can you retire on $26,000? Heck no. $26,000 doesn't set you up for life, as it barely gets you by for a year.
So just how bright can you be as a security guard being paid jack to help mastermind a heist that's going to result in setting you up for maybe a year of living if you ain't caught or 20 years of prison if you are caught? Is that a great plan?
You totally know the cops are looking at this guard's phone records and bank accounts and scoping him out because he had no proper duty opening that door 3 hours after the biz closed. The question of the day will be "WHY WERE YOU THAT STUPID?"
Heck, you knock on the door of my house after 9 PM and you're lucky if I even talk to you from behind the locked door. After 9? Are you crazy? WTF? I don't even answer my PHONE after 9 PM.
This guy was either in on it or the worst security guard ever.
Either way, he's in the cheese. He's gonna pay for this crime.