Assaults at Apple stores in Santiago de Chile: Why have three different stores been attacked in a single month?

The levels of insecurity have increased in Santiago, the capital of Chili. Figures shared in October 2022 indicate that people’s fear of being assaulted increased by 7.6 percentage points. That made the numbers rise to 28%, the highest in the last 22 years, according to the measurement of Paz Ciudadana, quote Radio U. of Chile.

The statistics speak on the one hand and the facts complement the message. In just a span of 31 days there have been three assaults on stores MacOnline from Santiago de Chile. Shops that sell products Apple like iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and many other gadgets from the Cupertino giant are being subjected to crime.

The three violent acts registered the same modus operandi: a large group of criminals, with firearms and willing to kill whoever gets in their way, since in each of the assaults there were shots; Fortunately no fatalities.

In addition, two of these robberies occurred at similar times, so the PDI (Chilean Investigation Police) presumes that it is the same organization.

When were these assaults on MacOnline stores recorded?

The first of the robberies occurred on December 29, in the shopping center Arauco de Maipú. according to review infobae, a group of criminals arrived, fired shots; store employees and customers threw themselves to the ground, grabbed what they could, and fled.

The second victim MacOnline store was that of Portal La Dehesa, located in Lo Barnechea, an exclusive town in the Santiago Metropolitan Region. Stage? Very similar. At least seven armed individuals arrived intimidating customers, private security, and employees. This second attack was on January 8 of the current year.

The most recent was this Sunday, January 29, just one month after the first attack. Between eight and 10 thieves traveling in a couple of cars assaulted the Plaza Egaña Mall, located in the La Reina commune. PDI calculates that the amount stolen from stores reaches 50 million pesos.

Why against Apple?

While the PDI conducts a deeper investigation, preliminary reports that are based on presumptions begin to emerge. An expert in private security anticipates that “clearly we are facing a pattern of criminal behavior. They are no longer jewelry stores, nor ATMs, as we knew them years ago in Chile”.

He explains that now the criminals have set their sights on technology because they are “places where two or three objects add up to millions. And they do not have the surveillance that the banks or the jewelry stores themselves have, ”he added.

In this way, he warns that since the first three attacks were effective -so far there have been no detainees- the gangs are going to continue attacking and other criminal organizations could copy this modus operandi.