Police provide descriptions of team of thieves that hit Apple Store in Modesto mall

The Modesto Police Department has released descriptions of the four men who rushed into the Apple Store at Vintage Faire Mall on May 10, scooped up various merchandise and made a quick escape.

Because the men did not engage with employees or customers – they gave no commands and showed no weapons – the case is grand theft, not robbery, police have said. A witness told The Bee the men moved fast, stacking up laptops and grabbing iPhones and other devices and accessories.

Police said the men fled to their getaway vehicle – a champagne-colored early 2000s Audi A4 that was double parked about 40 yards from the store entrance.

The crime occurred about 11 a.m. Police gave the following descriptions:

▪ Suspect 1 – black male, 17-23 years old, 5-foot-9, thin build. Last seen wearing dark Nike baseball hat, dark hooded sweat shirt, dark pants, white shoes.

▪ Suspect 2 – black male, 18-23 years old, 6 feet tall, thin build. Last seen wearing dark Adidas sweat shirt. This suspect appears to have a tattoo on his left hand.

▪ Suspect 3 – black male, 17-20 years old, 5-foot-7, thin build. Last seen wearing burgundy hooded sweat shirt, gray sweat pants, black shoes.

▪ Suspect 4 – black male, 18-23 years old, 6-foot-2, thin build. Last seen wearing black hooded sweat jacket, black pants

Apple Stores are a hot target for crews of thieves who travel up and down California looking to steal valuable tech products, Modesto police Sgt. Patrick Kimes told The Bee last week. “This is how they do it, this is the normal – crews five or six guys deep go in, snap off the wires (of products that are tethered to counters – and much of Apple’s aren’t) and bolt.”

This story was originally published May 18, 2017 at 7:15 AM with the headline "Police provide descriptions of team of thieves that hit Apple Store in Modesto mall."