Apple disables iPhones stolen in Los Angeles looting

Stealing iPhones from a physical Apple Store is a crime that literally doesn't pay, thanks to Apple's anti-theft technology.

Looters who reportedly lifted the smartphones from the Apple Tower Theatre store in downtown Los Angeles were greeted with a blaring alarm and a message warning them to return the devices to their rightful owners, according to independent reporter Brendan Gutenschwager, who posted a video of the devices on June 10.

"Please return to Apple Tower Theatre. This device has been disabled and is being tracked. Local authorities will be alerted," the message on the iPhone display reads in Gutenschwager's video. In the clip, the devices are lying on the sidewalk before they're picked up by a police officer.

The iPhones were reportedly lifted from the Apple Tower Theatre store on June 10, a few days into citywide protests against federal immigration enforcement raids. In some places, looting and violence have erupted during protests, with people targeting stores including Apple, as well as Adidas and Shoe Palace, and Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass imposing a partial curfew on the city. During the protests last week, the Los Angeles Police Department made multiple arrests for looting.

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The demo iPhones in Apple Store locations worldwide are equipped with special security software which locks the phone when carried out of the store, tracks its location, and notifies the authorities.