Quick-footed thieves snag 39 iPods in 15 seconds

Okay, so iPods might be easy to flip on eBay, but cruising around with 39 hot PMPs in the trunk of your car (and a stash of PlayStation 2 games to boot) probably isn't the best way to welcome yourself to Utah. Three New Yorkers apparently took those crime dramas a bit too seriously as they acquired "maps of every Target store in Utah and Nevada," and flew off to Riverdale with a heist in mind. When the thieves couldn't break open the iPod display at their primary target (ahem), they sped off to execute plan B, but alerted authorities to their ill intentions in the process. Nevertheless, the crooks finally pulled off the job with utmost haste, as they stuffed 39 iPods (and possibly a few PS2 titles) down a presumably gargantuous pair of "oversized pants" in a blistering 15 seconds. Although the second time proved to be a charm, their sloppiness in round one landed them in police custody less than 24 hours after arriving in the Beehive State. While flying across the country to jack $7,000 worth of 'Pods might make for good television, you're probably better off trying to outwit one of those yet-to-be-altered cash-flinging ATMs if you're feeling frisky.

[Via PowerPage]

[Dp462090 @ Oct 12th 2006 2:46PM]

Yes, the policy is has them in custody.

[bsm0f0 @ Oct 12th 2006 1:04PM]

does this count for or against their frequent flyer mile program?

[Merkidemis @ Oct 12th 2006 1:18PM]

I hate being in policy custody...

[cbradleyrun @ Oct 12th 2006 1:19PM]

Can't fit that many Zune boxes down your pants. Another reason Zune beats the ipod.

[ananda @ Oct 12th 2006 1:28PM]

Riverdale Target? more like the Bronx, across the street from the projects, Target. not the nicest of neighborhoods

[kingkool68 @ Oct 12th 2006 1:28PM]

Randall B? Is that you swiping those iPods?

[Typo Lad @ Oct 12th 2006 1:48PM]

Riverdale is part of The Bronx. Not all of Riverdale looks like Fieldstone. There are projects in Riverdale.

[Alex Tyler @ Oct 12th 2006 1:58PM]

Just to avoid confusion, this is Riverdale, Utah, not NY. Small community 20 miles north of SLC.

[Chucky @ Oct 12th 2006 2:46PM]

15 seconds is a lifetime for shoplifting. These guys need to clean up their game.

[Dp462090 @ Oct 12th 2006 2:47PM]

Damn, it... forgot to delete that "is."

[Justin @ Oct 12th 2006 2:53PM]

Dp462090 - lol @ the irony

[Zorque @ Oct 12th 2006 4:04PM]

Living in Utah, I have to wonder why they would bother coming here to get their mitts on those iPods. Our cops are pretty terrible, but I'm sure there are parts of New York that are less well-policed than Riverdale.

[wiwpc @ Oct 12th 2006 6:11PM]

...and because those areas are not as well-policed, storeowners put their sh*t on lockdown.

[ben @ Oct 12th 2006 4:13PM]

Yes! Utah made the news.

[David W. @ Oct 12th 2006 4:27PM]

Why do people try to steal from Target? They have one of the most agressive anti-shoplifting programs in the country. Not to mention most stores have very good security. Why not try this at say...wal*mart?

[matt @ Oct 12th 2006 4:33PM]

I am so happy to see utah on engadget! What idiots!

[Thomas Bags @ Oct 12th 2006 6:59PM]

anyone know where i can find a video of this, the one on ABC seems not to work

[Reginald @ Oct 12th 2006 9:01PM]

I couldn't get it to work in Firefox either. Use Internet Explorer to view the video.

[drfish @ Oct 12th 2006 11:05PM]

So the moral of the story is that if they had done even the slightest amount of preplanning and forethought, they would have gotten away with it, at least for till target got wise.

Let's see.
1. At the very very least a minimum level of disguise.
2. Take the time to swipe a few license plates from the parking lot. Drive a few blocks, slap a new one on, drive to the next Target.
3.umm.. Profit?

The fact that they got out of the store with that many iPods is what amazes me.

[James @ Oct 13th 2006 12:20PM]

"Duhhh, stay out of Riverdale!"

[Nabil @ Oct 13th 2006 6:19PM]

Man. I live in Utah and we have a gestapo police force.

I mean the only reason these guys were monitored closely by security, is because they are not white.

If it was two white kids doing this, then you would have seen those ipods on ebay.

[Bob S. @ Oct 19th 2006 1:27AM]

Sure, go ahead and play the race card.

That's total bullshit by the way.

As one who works in Assets Protection (what other stores call security, loss prevention, whatever...) for Target, I can attest to the fact we do not engage in racial profiling, i.e. surveillance based on ethnicity. We are equal opportunity scumbag catchers. No matter what you're race, if you look and act like you are going to steal from us, we are going to be on you like flies on dog feces. And if you should be lucky enough to get away with it once but be stupid enough to make a return visit, you can bet your bottom dollar that you will be caught.

[Leopold Porkstacker @ Apr 30th 2007 1:11PM]

Kids these days! Of course their parents are to blame and ought have used condoms!!!

-he who stacks pork