The New York Police Department is investigating to find out if the theft of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL)’s products has any link with a major data breach at Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT). The Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) products were stolen from several Target stores in the New York-area. The discount retailer reported yesterday that the credit and debit card data of more than 40 million customers has been exposed. Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)’s security nightmare comes at a crucial time in the holiday shopping season.
$20,000 worth of Apple products
Law enforcement sources told the NYPost that the Brooklyn South Anti-crime Unit officials discovered the theft on Thursday in Flatbush. Officials pulled over a Dodge Caravan, with three men inside, for blowing a red light. When the 21-year old driver Isiah Ramdaran opened the glovebox to fetch the insurance documents, he revealed a loaded 3-caliber gun. Upon a quick search of the truck, officials found more than $20,000 worth of Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) devices in Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT)’s shopping bags. There were 11 iTouches, 14 iPad Minis and 17 iPad Airs. Receipts showed that all those Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) products were purchased at different New York-area Target stores.
Apple products are favorites of thieves, too?
Sources said that the goods were purchased using gift cards that they might have bought with stolen credit cards. All three suspects have been charged with possession of a gun and stolen property. The second-largest discount retailer in the country acknowledged yesterday that it was investigating a breach that took place over the Thanksgiving weekend. Customers who purchased goods between November 27 and December 15 by swiping their cards at Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) stores have been the victims of the breach. The retailer said that online purchases were not affected by the data breach.
Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) products have been the favorite of shoppers this holiday season. The latest credit card breach is the second-largest in the history of the United States. In 2007, The TJX Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TJX) said that the credit card data of more than 45 million of its shoppers were exposed to fraud.
