Carload Of Burglars Smash Into Apple Store, Crawl Inside, Load Up On Loot and Flee: Police

PALO ALTO, CA – An SUV smashed into the Apple storefront this morning in downtown Palo Alto, and eight to 10 individuals, with hoodies pulled over their heads, hopped out, crawled through the broken window and looted the store, according to police.

Four of the suspects, two adults and two minors, were apprehended nearby, the Palo Alto Police Department said today. Investigators are working to identify and find the others.

Palo Alto police were notified at 4:38 a.m. that a vehicle had crashed into the business at 340 University Ave., and that witnesses saw multiple people running from the area. The vehicle used, a rented, gray 2016 Kia Soul, was found with major damage, abandoned on the sidewalk in front of the store. A 40-foot tall panel of glass on the building was shattered, but hanging in place, with a small hole in the bottom portion punched out by the vehicle, police said.

A second vehicle associated with the crime, a black 2013 Hyundai Sonata, was located with no one inside, parked in the Lane 20 West alleyway, adjacent to City Parking Garage “S” at 445 Bryant St., across the street from the Apple store, police said.

Also recovered, found strewn about on the ground nearby, were numerous stolen Apple computers and phones, police said.

"A review of video surveillance footage from the Apple store showed that eight to 10 suspects crawled into the store through the hole in the glass and stole a large number of items," police said. "All of the suspects were wearing hooded sweatshirts, with the hoods up, to conceal their identities, gender, race, and even ages are not discernible in the video."

In the arrested foursome were two males, 16 and 17, from Oakland, whose names were not released due to their ages, who were taken to Santa Clara County juvenile hall.

Also arrested on suspicion of felony burglary, vandalism and conspiracy were Erica Jaynisha White, 18 of Oakland, and 19-year-old Shaquin K. Ferguson, who has no permanent address, but is on parole for weapons violations, police said.

The dollar loss of the burglary is not yet known as Apple personnel are taking inventory of what was stolen.

Police said they will not be releasing the store surveillance video or images from it, "since the faces of the suspects are not readily discernible, and detectives have sufficient leads already to pursue. The value of releasing the video does not outweigh the potential to jeopardize the ongoing investigation," the department said.

Detectives also are investigating a possible connection between this incident and other burglaries of Apple stores throughout the Bay Area. At this time, police have not connected the four arrested suspects to any other cases.

Anyone with information can call the 24-hour dispatch center at 650-329-2413. Anonymous tips can be e-mailed to paloalto@tipnow.org or sent via text message or voice mail to 650-383-8984. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the free mobile app, downloadable at bit.ly/PAPD-AppStore or bit.ly/PAPD-GooglePlay.

• ALSO SEE: Shooter Of North Bay Man Turns Gun On Himself In Apparent Suicide: Deputies. The 56-year-old shot himself in the head as his Nissan was being pursued by Sonoma Co. Sheriff's deputies, officials said.

--Images via PAPD