Five Charged With Stealing 14K in iPhones in Organized Robbery at Hingham Apple Store

From the Hingham Police Department

Five people were arrested Thursday night after an organized retail theft in which the group simultaneously grabbed at least 20 display iPhones from the Apple Store and ran. Four of those arrested were juveniles.

The incident occurred Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 at 7:28 p.m. when staff at the Apple Store in the Derby Street Shoppes reported a group of 4-5 females and possibly 2 males quickly entered the store, simultaneously pulled the security cables from the display iPhones, and ran out the door. The group ran toward the wooded area near Route 3.

An Apple employee chased after them and was injured when he fell outside. Officers who were in the area found a portion of the fence cut along Route 3 behind the Derby Street Shoppes. A motorist traveling on Route 3 reported a group of 5-6 people in dark clothing were on the highway median near the Hingham Industrial Park. Officers quickly located one juvenile female in the woods in the Industrial Park. A short time later, Officers stopped a car that was driving on a dead end street in the Industrial Park. The driver and his three passengers were arrested after Officers matched specific clothing from the Apple surveillance video.

The vehicle, a 2010 Nissan Altima, was towed to the Hingham Police Station. Detectives obtained a search warrant and recovered several new iPhones hidden in the car.

At least 20 iPhones were stolen with a total value of approximately $14,000.

Arrested was Derrell A. Williams, 20, of Roxbury, 17-year-old woman from Boston, a 16-year-old woman from Dorchester, a 16-year-old man from Chelsea, and a 15-year-old woman from Dorchester. All were charged with larceny Over $250, conspiracy, disorderly conduct,and interfering with a police officer. Williams was arraigned in Hingham District Court on Friday and was released on $5,000 surety bail. He is due back in court on Jan. 24. The four juveniles will be arraigned in Hingham District Court on Dec. 20.

Hingham Police were assisted by the Massachusetts State Police, Norwell Police, Plymouth County Sheriff’s Department, Rockland Police and Weymouth Police.

The incident remains under investigation by Hingham Detectives.

It occurred in the same manner as the Sept. 5, 2016 theft in which a group of 10-12 individuals stole 22 iPhones from the same Apple Store and fled. No charges have yet been filed in that incident.

Image: file photo