Apple reacts to London riots

The ongoing London riots, now in their fourth day, have already caused significant damage across the city. Apple, a tempting target for thieves and vandals during the best of times, has reacted as any prudent and sufficiently cautious high-end retailer should during such a time. The Apple Store in Liverpool has entirely cleared out its inventory, and according to TNW several other stores have followed suit.

The Regent Street store has closed early with unconfirmed reports of armed police guards standing by, and many stores have police vans parked directly in front of the stores. Several London-area Apple resellers are also clearing stock from their shelves.

We've received several reports of 40 new-in-package iPhone 4 units available for sale on Craigslist, possibly related to the looting.

With reports on Twitter indicating that at least one of Sony's London-area stores was looted yesterday, Apple's reaction seems particularly prudent. Its products are obviously a high-profile target for would-be looters, and the fact that its storefronts are almost entirely glass could draw unwelcome attention from the vandals currently wrecking their way across London.

So far we have received no credible reports of any looting or vandalism taking place at any of London's Apple Stores, with the possible exception of the Craigslist seller mentioned above.

None of our UK correspondents have been directly affected by the rioting yet, and we wish them and all of the UK a speedy return to order.