Gang of Grinches Rob Old Pasadena’s Apple Store in Broad Daylight

A gang of mean-spirited “grinches” went “holiday shopping” at the Apple Store in Old Pasadena Tuesday morning, in the worst possible way.

Pasadena Police Lt. John Luna said the trio scooped up a number iPhones in a classic “grab and run” attack which over quickly.

The three, described only as young Black men in their twenties, struck at 11:21 a.m., Luna said, and all three fled the 54 West Colorado Blvd. store without being captured.

On social media, a person who allegedly in the store at the time said that there were four robbers who blocked the door, ransacked the store, and escaped with Apple products.

Separately, police warn shoppers they, too, may be especially susceptible to robbery and burglaries at holiday time.

Shortly before Thanksgiving, Pasadena police issued tips to shoppers to protect themselves:

Don’t place valuables in plain site in your vehicle and leave them unattended while you do more shopping.

If you place items in your trunk, look around to see if anyone suspicious loitering in the parking lot or hanging out in front of a store. If so, don’t ignore your instincts. Alert law enforcement.

Keep a firm hold of your purse, packages, and phone to prevent someone from running up behind you and pulling these items out of your grasp. Also don’t leave them unattended in a shopping cart.

Do not leave values in your car for several hours in front of a residence or overnight. This is a risky convenience that could result in a theft. Thieves don’t care if they can’t tell for certain what the item is. If it’s in sight, it “might” be worthy their effort to steal.

Park in well light areas. Vehicles in parking garages can be easy targets, especially if you purchase items like electronics and leave them in your car while you go to grab a coffee or bite to eat.

If dining at an outside table or counter, don’t place your phone or valuables on the table where they can be easily grabbed by a thief.

Be mindful of your credit cards and wallet during transactions.

Shop in pairs or groups and keep an eye out for each other.

To help deter these crimes of opportunity during the holiday weekends, the Pasadena Police uniform volunteers are patrolling numerous shopping centers throughout the city. They will be handing out crime prevention flyers and they are an extra set of eyes to recognize suspicious activity. Say hello to a volunteer and learn more about general public safety tips.

 

Polic also urged shoppers to have your local law enforcement’s non-emergency number already stored in your phone. Pasadena PD is 626-744-4241.