A video appeared to show a man in California stealing about 50 phones from an Apple Store in the latest case of shoplifting in the Golden State. The video follows a rash of ‘flash mob’ robberies in Democratic Party-led cities and states, as well as an increasing number of business closures in California’s cities.
The Wednesday theft occurred in Emeryville in which a man could be seen taking phones from an Apple Store before leaving. The suspected thief appeared to pass a police car on his way out.
Following the robbery the Emeryville Police Department arrested the suspect, identified as 22-year-old Tyler Mims. The suspect was charged with burglary and grand theft, among others.
Overall, law enforcement acused Mimos of stealing 50 iPhones, which were valued at almost $50,000. The robbery was caught on take, including the person recording following Mims out of the store and leaving in a black Hyundai.
Mims was arrested two days after the alleged burglary.
NEW: 22-year-old Tyler Mims has been arrested along with 2 others after he went viral for stealing iPhones from an Apple Store in Berkeley, California.
Mims has been booked into jail and is being held on $810,000 bail.
Mims allegedly stole about 50 iPhones worth a whopping… pic.twitter.com/OZlfxse3wR
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) February 10, 2024
The police department said that it worked with the Berkeley Police Department and California Highway Patrol in another investigation. Three suspects were arrested for a Wednesday theft at the same store, including Mims. Mims was arrested for a separate theft at the Berkeley Apple Store.
The suspect was also charged with conspiracy to commit a crime and organized retail theft.
The video made the rounds on social media, gaining more than 10 million views.
California has seen a significant increase in ‘flash mob’ robberies in California’s cities, including at department stores, leading to the theft of thousands of dollars of merchandise. In one case also caught on camera a group of people stole items from Nordstrom.
In other cases, In-N-Out and Denny’s both announced the closure of their locations in Oakland. In-N-Out reported concern about crime in the area around the location, including more than 1,000 police calls.
A company official said that In-N-Out felt “the frequency and severity of the crimes being encountered by our customers and associates leave us no alternative.”
Included in the reported crimes near the restaurant were nine robberies and two commercial burglaries.
