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Test iPad stolen from Cupertino home, not yet recovered

Apple's latest iPad Air 2 tablet

Apple’s latest iPad Air 2 tablet

Mercury News reports that an iPad test model was one of the items stolen in a robbery and kidnapping that took place at a Cupertino house earlier this month. Specific details regarding the device are sparse at this point, although it has not yet been recovered. The victim of the robbery was a 20-year old man who was also kidnapped after responding to an online advertisement from a woman. The victim is thankfully safe following the incident.

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office would only disclose that the device was “a test model iPad from Apple.” The victim informed detectives that the device was one of the items stolen.  In addition to the test iPad, the robbers also took other electronic devices, prescription drugs, and cash valued at $7,500.

Interestingly, the Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office has already made two arrests in conjunction with the kidnapping and theft, but the iPad has yet to be recovered. The two felons were accused of taking the items from the house, forcing the victim into their car, and driving him three-quarters of a mile away before releasing him.

This isn’t the first time an Apple test device has been stolen. The most well-known case was, of course, the iPhone 4 that was found in a San Francisco bar. The device was later sold to a reporter for $5,000 who posted images of the device. The reporter’s house was raided by authorities, even after the device was returned to Apple.

It remains unclear if the test iPad that was stolen this month in Cupertino was a next-generation prototype or an old test device. Nevertheless, it has yet to be recovered and is still out there somewhere. Perhaps most importantly, the victim is safe following the kidnapping. It’s unclear if the victim was an Apple employee.

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Comments

  1. frin323 - 9 years ago

    It’s a little unsettling that the focus of this article is the test iPad and not the person getting kidnaped.

  2. Gazoo Bee - 9 years ago

    Gosh, if the press gets a hold of it before Apple recovers it, then the fact that it’s slightly faster and slightly thinner than last years model will no longer be a secret!

    These thieves might end up revealing that it’s a half a millimetre thinner, or that the screen is a tenth of a millimetre closer to the glass! They might find out that this years processor is ever so slightly faster than last years processor!

    How will Apple survive as a company once these “iPad secrets” are known!! The horror!!

    • alfredprunesquallor - 9 years ago

      And that it sports a pre-loaded escort service app.

  3. spiralynth - 9 years ago

    Take a precautions when answering an ads from a women.

    • demeetreee - 9 years ago

      “Hey gorgeous,

      I just happened to stumble across your comment. You’re so funnyyy and cute ;-) My name’s Jessica. Wanna hang out? I’ll pay =*
      PS. Do you carry an  watch edition? Would you mind bringing it to the date?”

  4. techgeek12345 - 9 years ago

    I feel like the your report should include more details on THE HUMAN BEING THAT WAS KIDNAPPED… Big fan of this site but come on guys seriously?

  5. Yun Kut3 - 9 years ago

    Reblogged this on Yun Kut3's Blog.

  6. Jordan Biffle - 9 years ago

    Do they not have “Find My iPad” setup on it? If anything, you’d think they’d have special testing software that lets you track it even if they power it off.

  7. Rich Davis (@RichDavis9) - 9 years ago

    i wonder if the perps knew they had the prototype. Yeah, it’s sad to hear of this type of burglary, especially in Cupertino, which has a VERY low crime rate and a very low unemployment rate.

  8. iPad Pro confirmed!!! If I were a betting man Id keep my eye on Gizmodo for the next few days.

  9. vkd108 - 9 years ago

    I once went out with a women but when she all started talking at once I felt edged out LOL

  10. Bill Clark (@bill_clark) - 9 years ago

    Sounds like Gizmodo is getting desperate. ;)

Author

Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is an editor for the entire 9to5 network and covers the latest Apple news for 9to5Mac.

Tips, questions, typos to chance@9to5mac.com