Burlingame Apple Store latest target of grab-run robberies

Burlingame police are seeking a group of thieves who ran into an Apple Store and grabbed $50,000 worth of phones and laptops in a matter of seconds — the fifth such incident in the Bay Area in the past two weeks.

The theft took place around 11:30 a.m. Sunday, said Burlingame police Lt. Robert Boll. Four males, estimated to be in their teens and 20s, took about 30 phones and six laptops from the display tables and fled in a car parked on the street.

The car was a gray Volvo sedan driven by a fifth male, also believed to be in his teens or 20s. The entire incident happened in 30 sec-

onds, Boll said.

No Apple employees or customers were harmed. At least one Apple security guard was in the store at the time.

Thieves have hit four other Bay Area Apple stores in similar fashion recently, starting Aug. 22 in Corte Madera, followed by Emeryville and Walnut Creek on Aug. 25 and Santa Rosa on Wednesday. Surveillance videos show young men wearing hoodies grabbing phones and tablets off display tables before running out of the store.

“It’s definitely related through M.O.,” Boll said. “It’s the same exact type of thing we’ve seen in the past, but we can’t say for certain if it’s the same

“It’s the same ... thing we’ve seen in the past, but we can’t say for certain if it’s the same people.” Robert Boll, Burlingame police lieutenant

people.”

Apple declined to comment Monday.