The wave of looting that hit France during the riots on October 17 left behind broken storefronts, shattered windows and stolen merchandise. Among the businesses hit were Apple stores, where iPhones, iPads and Mac computers were taken. But some of the phones stolen from the stores later displayed an unusual message: the device has been disabled and is being tracked.
In footage circulated on social media, an iPhone screen shows a message asking that the device be returned to the Apple store in Lille, France. The message states that the device has been disabled, that its location is being tracked, and that authorities will receive an alert. The documentation drew attention online, particularly because the devices stolen, presumably to be used by the looters or resold, could become completely unusable.
According to reports in France, Apple stores in Lille and Bordeaux were hit during the unrest. Stores belonging to telecom companies and other electronics chains were also looted. The telecom company Bouygues Telecom reported damage to 19 of its stores, four of which required extensive restoration, while SFR reported around 15 stores affected.
