26
Thieves rob DC Uber Eats driver, reject stolen android phone for not being iPhone (wjla.com)
submitted 7 months ago by fer0n@lemm.ee to c/apple_enthusiast@lemmy.world
14 comments fedilink hide all child comments

She said the robbers were bold taking her husband’s phone, but then giving it back because it wasn’t to their liking.

“They basically looked at that phone and was like ‘Oh, that’s an Android? We don’t want this. I thought it was an iPhone,’” she said.

all 16 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] gregorum@lemm.ee 23 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

where do these stories come from? did this uber driver get robbed, report it to the police, and feel so offended that his android phone got rejected by the robber that he decided to call up some news station about it? because i'm trying to process the train of thought here between the robbery and alleged rejection and this news story being published. all i can think is that some online news editor believed it would generate a lot of clicks, but i'm still stuck on how some robbery victim who got their phone rejected for being the wrong brand thought it might feel the need to contact a news station about it.

[-] Outtatime@sh.itjust.works 11 points 7 months ago

The reporter tracked down the victims and did an interview. Found out what happened and used the odd fact as a basis and title for the story.

[-] pegathith@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

Also doesn't even make sense since iPhones (honestly most phones now) are so well known to be easily remotely bricked by the owner, that stealing it offers little to no benefits.

[-] gregorum@lemm.ee 1 points 7 months ago

From what I understand, they can be disassembled, and some of their internal parts are valuable on the black market

[-] skittlebrau@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago

Quite a few of the major parts are now serialised and have to be assigned/tied to a device through an Apple service system - I forget what it’s called - so that scenario is becoming less profitable as well.

[-] gregorum@lemm.ee 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

Oh, you’re totally right. But there are still a couple of parts that don’t, and they are still somewhat profitable. There are also some parts that robbers can sell off because others don’t know about that program, and they make some money off that too. Also, some robbers don’t know about all of this, so it still provides some extra motive to rob still.

[-] thehatfox@lemmy.world 3 points 7 months ago

Perhaps the victim posted something on social media about the robbery, which was then picked up on by a journalist.

To be honest it is a rather bizarre situation to end up in, being rejected by a robber for not having good enough loot.

[-] VieuxQueb@lemmy.ca 7 points 7 months ago

I thought iPhones where basically a brick if stollen.

[-] gregorum@lemm.ee 6 points 7 months ago

they are, but many of their parts are valuable as after-market items, such as the screens and batteries.

[-] Melonpoly@lemmy.world 6 points 7 months ago

How? They are all locked to that specific device. Installing a screen or battery from another iPhone will disable features on the iPhone it's installed in. I'm surprised there's still a market for that.

[-] gregorum@lemm.ee 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

they're supposed to be or to have reduced functionality of black marketed parts like this. then again, one shouldn't expect a technician who buys stolen parts to be scrupulous...

[-] thehatfox@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago

Parts are paired to devices, but some parts will still worked unpaired but with reduced functionality. On the iPhone 15 Pro for example, a transplanted screen will not have True Tone and auto-brightness.

There are plenty of unscrupulous phone repairers who will harvest parts from stolen phones and pass them off to unknowing customers.

[-] VieuxQueb@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 months ago

I did not think of that.

[-] scytale@lemm.ee 6 points 7 months ago

I’ve seen cases where the thieves demand you to unlock your phone at gunpoint before leaving, so they can do whatever before you get a chance to remotely brick it.

this post was submitted on 06 Dec 2023
26 points (75.0% liked)

Apple

16759 readers
44 users here now

Welcome

to the largest Apple community on Lemmy. This is the place where we talk about everything Apple, from iOS to the exciting upcoming Apple Vision Pro. Feel free to join the discussion!

Rules:
  1. No NSFW Content
  2. No Hate Speech or Personal Attacks
  3. No Ads / Spamming
    Self promotion is only allowed in the pinned monthly thread

Lemmy Code of Conduct

Communities of Interest:

Apple Hardware
Apple TV
Apple Watch
iPad
iPhone
Mac
Vintage Apple

Apple Software
iOS
iPadOS
macOS
tvOS
watchOS
Shortcuts
Xcode

Community banner courtesy of u/Antsomnia.

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
MichelleG@lemmy.world
RoyalEngineering@lemmy.world
thisisdee@lemmy.world