MyPhone: Brazen gang of hooded thieves snatch 21 iPhones worth $19,000 from display in New York Apple store
- Five hooded men were caught on CCTV at the outlet in Huntington Station, NY
- Police are offering a reward of $5000 for information to catch the criminals
- The men enter the store calmly and browse before pulling the items off display and sprinting out the door
This is the shocking moment a gang of thieves snatch $19,000 (£14,246.20) worth of iPhones from right under the nose of staff at an Apple store in New York.
The five hooded men were caught on CCTV at the outlet in Huntington Station casually browsing the wares for more than two minutes before ripping 21 iPhone 8s and iPhone Xs from their display holders and fleeing on foot.
Police are offering a reward of up to $5,000 (£3749) for information about the brazen raid, which took place at around 8.20pm on Friday.
Footage shows the men calmly entering the store under the guise of customers as they approach the devices on display.
A staff member holding an iPad at the bottom of the frame notices the men but does not appear to be alarmed as they fan out across the store and start tapping away on the iPhones with their faces hidden.
While he deals with enquiries from genuine customers the thieves stalk from table to table, sizing up the valuables.
One man holds his hand across his face as he moves around the store but his behaviour does not appear to arouse suspicion.
The thieves are even seen giving instructions to one another as they carefully watch the staff member's movements and wait for their moment.
Sensing their opportunity, they then grab as many phones as they can and tear them from their security cables.
Outnumbered, the member of staff does not attempt to intervene and can only watch as the gang sprint out of the store.
This is the shocking moment a gang of thieves snatch $19,000 (£14,246.20) worth of iPhones from right under the nose of staff at an Apple store in New York
Leg it: The group make a run after snatching the 21 iPhones from the store
Police said: 'Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are seeking the public's help to identify and locate the people who stole merchandise from a Huntington Station store earlier this month.
'Five men stole 21 iPhone 8s and iPhone Xs valued at over $19,000 from the Apple Store, located at 180 Walt Whitman Road, at approximately 8:20pm on July 6, 2018.
'The men grabbed the phones off a display table and ran from the store.
'The men were all wearing hooded sweatshirts.
Brazen: The men first walked into the shop and browsed before snatching the phones and making a run for it
'Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to an arrest.
'Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, texting 'SCPD' and your message to 'CRIMES' (274637) or by email at www.tipsubmit.com.
'All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.'
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