Crime

BPD: 3 arrested after stealing 75 iPhones from Apple Store

BPD said the same crew "may be responsible for several organized retail theft crimes" from the Berkeley Apple Store.

A BPD crime scene technician parked outside the Berkeley Apple Store on Fourth Street, Aug. 16, 2023. Ariel Nava Photo

Update, Thursday, Feb. 8: Berkeley police identified the three people arrested Wednesday after a theft at the Berkeley Apple Store as Iyana Hill, 20, of Berkeley, Tyler Mims, 22, of Sacramento, and Undre Railey, 28, of Oakland.

In an updated statement Thursday, BPD said that two people went into the Apple Store on Wednesday, stole more than 75 iPhones and fled in a red Dodge truck before police could get there.

Berkeley detectives and the BPD bike unit worked with the Apple Store to track the phones as the culprits drove out of Berkeley: "With the help of the California Highway Patrol and Oakland Police Department, three suspects were located and detained on 73rd Ave. and Bancroft Ave. in Oakland. BPD responded and took all three suspects into custody without further incident. All of the iPhones were recovered."

Booking photographs were not immediately available but The Scanner has requested them.

Update, 6:50 p.m. Police arrested three people in connection with the theft of 75 iPhones from the Berkeley Apple Store on Wednesday.

In an update Wednesday evening, police said that one person went into the Berkeley Apple Store, at 1823 Fourth St., and took approximately 75 phones at about 12:20 p.m.

"Detectives worked with CHP, OPD and Emeryville PD to successfully track the phones and take three adults into custody in Oakland," Berkeley police said in a prepared statement. "The phones were recovered. It is still early in the investigation, however, this crew may be responsible for several organized retail theft crimes" from the Berkeley Apple Store.

The names of the arrested individuals, two men and a woman, were not available as of publication time.

Original story: Police are investigating another snatch-and-grab burglary at the Berkeley Apple Store, which has been relentlessly targeted by thieves this year.

On Wednesday just after 12:20 p.m., two people went into the Berkeley Apple Store, at 1823 Fourth St., and took 40-50 iPhones before fleeing, Berkeley police said.

Police cautioned that the initial report is preliminary and that some of the details could change.

Berkeley police said no other information could be shared due to the active investigation.

In January, police said thieves hit the Berkeley Apple Store five times that month alone. Twice, their plans were foiled, but three other times they made off with devices.

See complete coverage of Berkeley Apple Store thefts on The Scanner.