Apple Stores in Lille and Bordeaux Looted During French Protests; Both Now Reopened

| The Desk Media Staff
#Apple

Apple’s stores in Lille and Bordeaux were looted on Saturday, October 17, during protests across France over the cost of living, according to French outlets MacGeneration and actu.fr. Both stores were among many businesses hit in several French cities that day.

What happened

In Lille, people broke the door and windows of the Rue Faidherbe store with hammers shortly before 5 p.m. and were seen leaving with Mac computers, actu.fr reports. AFP reporters saw a man leave with a stolen computer, according to MacGeneration, and Lille mayor Arnaud Deslandes confirmed the looting. Police forensics teams were outside the store that evening.

In Bordeaux, the Sainte-Catherine store on the city’s main shopping street was looted along with other shops, including Decathlon, Intersport, Nocibé and Snipes, per AFP via MacGeneration. iPhoneSoft cites early local estimates of 50 to 100 businesses hit in Bordeaux’s center.

Stolen iPhones are locked

Videos shared on social media appear to show stolen iPhones displaying a message asking for the device to be returned to Apple Lille, saying it has been disabled, is being tracked and that authorities will be alerted, iPhoneAddict reports. The site notes Apple disables products that leave its stores without being paid for. The videos haven’t been officially authenticated, and the number of devices taken and the cost of the damage are unknown.

Reopening and investigation

Bordeaux Sainte-Catherine reopened Monday, October 19 at 2 p.m. with shortened hours, and Lille reopened Wednesday, October 21 at 10 a.m., according to iPhoneSoft and iPhoneAddict. Lille prosecutors say 56 people were taken into custody after the day’s violence, and the Apple Store theft is one of the aggravated theft cases assigned to regional judicial police, actu.fr reports. Apple hasn’t commented publicly. Customers with pickups or support appointments should check store hours on Apple’s site before going.

Sources: MacGeneration, actu.fr, actu.fr (Oct 19), iPhoneSoft, iPhoneAddict