A mob of hooded youths carried out a brazen robbery at the Apple store in Brent Cross shopping centre, North London, on Sunday afternoon. The incident unfolded in broad daylight, leaving shoppers, including families with young children, in a state of panic.  

Gang of youths raid busy London Apple store pic.twitter.com/Ll1Az3jII2

— Daily Mail Online (@MailOnline) January 6, 2025

 

The chaotic scene was captured in shocking footage, showing at least eight individuals, all dressed in black, storming the store. Within seconds, they had ripped expensive devices from their displays and fled. The entire heist took just 24 seconds, leaving behind a sea of stunned and frightened shoppers.  

 

The Met Police has since arrested six teenagers, aged between 14 and 18, on suspicion of robbery. Authorities acted swiftly, arriving at the scene and apprehending the suspects shortly after the crime was reported. A spokesperson for the police confirmed, “Six teenage boys have been arrested following a theft from a shop in Barnet after police arrived quickly at the scene. Enquiries continue.”  

 

The chaos began as the store’s security guard attempted to block one of the youths from entering. While his attention was diverted, the rest of the group rushed through the entrance, shoving aside customers in their path. Some shoppers, including a father who was seen carrying his child, fled in fear as the thieves descended on displays of Apple’s latest products.  

 

Employees and security personnel tried to intervene, with one guard in a high-visibility vest attempting to trip the robbers as they made their escape. In the rush, at least one stolen phone was dropped on the floor of the shopping centre.  

 

Social media users were quick to condemn the thieves, with many labeling their actions as “savage.” The incident has reignited concerns about the rising tide of retail crime across the UK. The Met Police reported that more than £15 million in goods and cash were stolen in the past year, highlighting the significant financial burden this crime wave places on businesses.  

 

The Apple store, one of approximately 120 shops in Brent Cross shopping centre, attracts thousands of visitors daily. Opened in 1976, the centre has long been a bustling retail hub, drawing around 15 million visitors annually.  

 

This robbery adds to growing pressure on police forces and the government to address the country’s escalating shoplifting epidemic. As investigations continue, the swift arrests in this case demonstrate law enforcement’s commitment to tackling such crimes head-on.  

 

Based on a report by Daily Mail 2024-01-07

 

 

They wouldn't have done that in 1970s Singapore.

As long as nanny state gutlessness rules western countries, such atrocities will continue. Time to man up, put the big boy pants on and actually punish the miscreants.

Welcome to the UK.

 

Cue lots of excuses about a difficult childhood, some Liberal hand wringing, followed by a slap on the wrist. 

 

They need the cells for social media posters. 

 

Apple's tech being what it is, they should be able to disable any product that wasn't paid for. 

 

Or better yet, report their exact location and all the numbers called, to prosecute them.  Then Apple needs to use their financial clout to force the cops to do their job, and sue every one of the perps that doesn't get a custodial sentence.

 

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They wouldn't have done that in 1970s Singapore.

As long as nanny state gutlessness rules western countries, such atrocities will continue. Time to man up, put the big boy pants on and actually punish the miscreants.

‘Atrocities’?

 

 

12 minutes ago, impulse said:

Or better yet, report their exact location and all the numbers called, to prosecute them.  Then Apple needs to use their financial clout to force the cops to do their job, and sue every one of the perps that doesn't get a custodial sentence.

 

The Met police rarely investigate real crimes like burgulary or theft. They've pretty much legalized shoplifting below a certain amount.

 

Much easier sitting in a warm office (or maybe working from home) dunking chocolate Digestives into luke warm tea and scrolling X for posts by the working class that aren't sufficiently Woke.  

3 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

The Met police rarely investigate real crimes like burgulary or theft. They've pretty much legalized shoplifting below a certain amount.

 

Much easier sitting in a warm office (or maybe working from home) dunking chocolate Digestives into luke warm tea and scrolling X for posts by the working class that aren't sufficiently Woke.  

Seems even this couldn’t get past your need for grievance:

 

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

The Met Police has since arrested six teenagers, aged between 14 and 18, on suspicion of robbery. Authorities acted swiftly, arriving at the scene and apprehending the suspects shortly after the crime was reported. A spokesperson for the police confirmed, “Six teenage boys have been arrested following a theft from a shop in Barnet after police arrived quickly at the scene. Enquiries continue.”  

 

Maybe this has something to do with the shocking state of affairs across all countries in the UK?

 

Shock figures reveal 23,500 police staff cut under the Tories

The Conservatives talk tough on crime but they are failing to keep the public safe, says GMB

23,500 police staff jobs have been lost in England and Wales since 2010, figures from GMB, the union for police staff, reveal. 

 

...

The most affected region is London, which has lost almost half (47 per cent or 9,000 jobs) of its police staff since 2010, including 72 per cent of PCSOs. The worst of the cuts were inflicted in the Metropolitan Police during Boris Johnson’s term as Mayor of London.

 

https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/shock-figures-reveal-23500-police-staff-cut-under-tories

2 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

Maybe this has something to do with the shocking state of affairs across all countries in the UK?

 

Shock figures reveal 23,500 police staff cut under the Tories

The Conservatives talk tough on crime but they are failing to keep the public safe, says GMB

23,500 police staff jobs have been lost in England and Wales since 2010, figures from GMB, the union for police staff, reveal. 

 

...

The most affected region is London, which has lost almost half (47 per cent or 9,000 jobs) of its police staff since 2010, including 72 per cent of PCSOs. The worst of the cuts were inflicted in the Metropolitan Police during Boris Johnson’s term as Mayor of London.

 

https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/shock-figures-reveal-23500-police-staff-cut-under-tories

In which case one would have thought that would be one of the urgent issues to address when bringing in the new budget but instead:

 

Budget cuts forced on police by Labour are deeply troubling, says Met chief

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has warned that Labour’s Budget will mean “eye-watering cuts” to the services his officers can offer the public.

Sir Mark Rowley said he was “deeply troubled by the situation we appear to be heading towards” in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Political Thinking podcast.

Britain’s most senior police officer said the accumulated impact of previous spending cuts, coupled with the most recent spending targets for the public sector, would require “difficult choices” of his force.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/budget-cuts-forced-police-labour-060000163.html

Just now, Bkk Brian said:

In which case one would have thought that would be one of the urgent issues to address when bringing in the new budget but instead:

 

Budget cuts forced on police by Labour are deeply troubling, says Met chief

The Metropolitan Police Commissioner has warned that Labour’s Budget will mean “eye-watering cuts” to the services his officers can offer the public.

Sir Mark Rowley said he was “deeply troubled by the situation we appear to be heading towards” in an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Political Thinking podcast.

Britain’s most senior police officer said the accumulated impact of previous spending cuts, coupled with the most recent spending targets for the public sector, would require “difficult choices” of his force.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/budget-cuts-forced-police-labour-060000163.html

 

Indeed, the UK is lacking a credible answer to their policing policies and a credible alternative to the rancid options for government. 

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Seems even this couldn’t get past your need for grievance:

 

 

 

Arrested? 😄 Then what?

 

I can guarantee they won't be sentenced to a single day in jail. 

 

And why should they? It's not like they committed a serious crime like being "grossly offensive" on X.

5 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They wouldn't have done that in 1970s Singapore.

As long as nanny state gutlessness rules western countries, such atrocities will continue. Time to man up, put the big boy pants on and actually punish the miscreants.

Prison won't deter them, its just an inconvenience.

Send them to a military bootcamp... that will soon sort them out.

Need copy middle eastern countries when caught for this crime.

Bye bye hands , won't be stealing again !

50 minutes ago, frank83628 said:

Prison won't deter them, its just an inconvenience.

Send them to a military bootcamp... that will soon sort them out.

 

 That's if you subscribe to the rehabilitation theory of incarceration.  If you believe in the isolation from decent society theory, they can't possibly rob an Apple Store if they're in prison.

 

Just spitballing, but it seems a waste that the UK already paid for so many idle beds in Rwanda.

 

Or, here's a thought...  For about 10% of what it costs to house and feed an inmate in the UK, Thailand could become the hub of penal tourism.  Win, win.  (Except for the bad guys who would have to acclimate to fish head soup and sweating a lot).

57 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

Arrested? 😄 Then what?

 

I can guarantee they won't be sentenced to a single day in jail. 

 

And why should they? It's not like they committed a serious crime like being "grossly offensive" on X.

You ‘guarantee’ Jonny.

 

Don’t absurd man.

 

You baselessly assert.

 

7 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They wouldn't have done that in 1970s Singapore.

As long as nanny state gutlessness rules western countries, such atrocities will continue. Time to man up, put the big boy pants on and actually punish the miscreants.

Bring back the birch.

No surprise.

Uk is in the toilet at present. 

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

Maybe this has something to do with the shocking state of affairs across all countries in the UK?

 

Shock figures reveal 23,500 police staff cut under the Tories

The Conservatives talk tough on crime but they are failing to keep the public safe, says GMB

23,500 police staff jobs have been lost in England and Wales since 2010, figures from GMB, the union for police staff, reveal. 

 

...

The most affected region is London, which has lost almost half (47 per cent or 9,000 jobs) of its police staff since 2010, including 72 per cent of PCSOs. The worst of the cuts were inflicted in the Metropolitan Police during Boris Johnson’s term as Mayor of London.

 

https://www.gmb.org.uk/news/shock-figures-reveal-23500-police-staff-cut-under-tories

 

   The Police arrested all the gang shortly afterwards .

How would having more Policemen have stopped this ?

The Police numbers isn't the problem here 

Is there a reason why the "security guy" does nothing?

13 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is there a reason why the "security guy" does nothing?

 

 Most likely one of the brothers.

15 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is there a reason why the "security guy" does nothing?

 

   You can see the security guy in the video doing something , he tries to stop them entering and tries to stop them leaving with the stolen goods 

24 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   The Police arrested all the gang shortly afterwards .

How would having more Policemen have stopped this ?

The Police numbers isn't the problem here 

 

I am not sure I agree. Certainly it was a very good response by the Met in this case, but I can't help but wonder why the gang thought it plausible that they might get away with it. Is there a feeling amongst thieves that such acts are easy pickings nowadays? Community policing, regular foot patrols and high visibility policing are all deterrents in my book.  

27 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is there a reason why the "security guy" does nothing?

 

If I was working on that door, I am not sure that I would place my life on the line for the benefit of the shareholders of Apple. 

36 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is there a reason why the "security guy" does nothing?

 

Probably didn't want to get stabbed for 10 pounds an hour. 

 

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/met-police-asda-security-guard-stabbed-stepney-london-b1192316.html

 

3 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

I am not sure I agree. Certainly it was a very good response by the Met in this case, but I can't help but wonder why the gang thought it plausible that they might get away with it. Is there a feeling amongst thieves that such acts are easy pickings nowadays? Community policing, regular foot patrols and high visibility policing are all deterrents in my book.  

 

   Police walking around the streets doesn't do anything to stop crime ,

There is CCTV everywhere and there was also security on the door , police aimlessly wandering around the streets wouldn't be a deterrent 

15 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

I am not sure I agree. Certainly it was a very good response by the Met in this case, but I can't help but wonder why the gang thought it plausible that they might get away with it.

 

Because the chances are, they would.

 

https://www.statista.com/statistics/303563/shoplifting-in-england-and-wales-uk-y-on-y/

 

 

56 minutes ago, quake said:

No surprise.

Uk is in the toilet at present. 

Be careful with the Brit Bashing, you’ll upset the hypersensitive patriots around here.

2 hours ago, frank83628 said:

Prison won't deter them, its just an inconvenience.

Send them to a military bootcamp... that will soon sort them out.

That's 1950s thinking. The military are not a social service and in any event how could they force ratbags to conform- shout louder?

 

Military boot camp? Have you even been in the military?

4 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Be careful with the Brit Bashing, you’ll upset the hypersensitive patriots around here.

 

Speaking the truth is not Brit Bashing. Many parts are currently floating in the bowl, other parts are already down past the S bend.

53 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Is there a reason why the "security guy" does nothing?

Not being a cop, if he injured one of the little darlings he would be in the dock himself.