In a surprising incident at an Apple store in Fujian province, southern China, a woman named Qiu attempted to steal an iPhone 14 Plus priced at $960 (Rs 79,414) by biting and chewing off the anti-theft cable. However, her bold theft attempt didn’t go unnoticed.
CCTV footage of the incident quickly went viral on Chinese social media platforms. In the video, Ms. Qiu can be seen standing in front of a smartphone display, examining a phone. She then leans on the counter, nibbles on the security cable multiple times, and discreetly places the phone into her bag before leaving the store.
Despite an alarm being triggered during the theft, store employees initially found nothing amiss. They believed Ms. Qiu had acted like a regular customer browsing through the phone’s features. However, upon closer inspection, they discovered the chewed cable and the missing phone, prompting them to contact the police.
The police arrested Ms. Qiu outside her residence after reviewing security camera footage that clearly showed the sequence of events. Ms. Qiu confessed to the theft, explaining that she had initially intended to buy a new phone after losing her old one but decided to steal it when she saw the high price. She remains in custody as the investigation continues.
The incident has left many people baffled. Some questioned Ms. Qiu’s awareness of the abundance of security cameras in the store, while others were amazed by her determination and the strength of her teeth.
