CBS Sacramento:
You might see new faces at Apple stores across the Sacramento region because Apple has contracted with several local police departments to bring police officers in as extra security.
This follows a months-long rash of store thefts by a criminal ring. So far, that ring is suspected of stealing a million dollars worth of Apple products.
I suspected Apple would do this eventually in some locations. There were just too many of these kinds of smash and grab robberies happening. Obviously, this won’t prevent all of them but it will deter some.
Since when does a tax-paying company need to ‘hire’ police officers to do a job that’s supposed to be implied?
Do those Apple stores get some kind of tax break for paying those officers’ salaries?
I’m curious to know how much those Apple stores pay in sales tax each year as a result of the massive business they do. Does mayor Steinberg not feel the need to reallocate resources accordingly?
I get Apple’s desire to solve a problem the city is incapable of solving themselves, but what happens when there’s a shootout at a store and innocent customers die?
It’s the city’s job to provide law and order, not Apple’s.
I suspect the first thing the city would do would be to demand Apple protect their inventory better. It’s like a jewelry store leaving everyone on top of the case.
And maybe it just goes: “And if you’re not going to do that, hire security.”
Yeah, I saw the footage of the security guard just watching the thieves make off with the loot. So if you can’t get the guards to intervene, or won’t let the guards intervene, then I guess police are the logical next step.
The solution is obvious. Arm the Apple Store employees! (no, I’m not serious. Yes, this is a riff on the “arm teachers” idiocy)
“The police officers are paid by Apple and are privately contracted, no taxpayer dollars at use.”
Assuming this happens outside officers’ regular work hours?
I’m also guessing the mall gets the security it’s willing to pay for.
My best friend worked security at a mall for a few years. The restrictions on them were fairly ridiculous. He quit after a coworker got beat up by a group of teenagers because they were bored.