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Video shows French Apple store being emptied by looters

Video captured during the protests in France show an Apple store being almost completely emptied by looters amid chaotic scenes that include cars being set alight.

Reports say that looters broke into Apple stores in Bordeaux and Lille as public unrest continues in what began as protests against overcrowded schools with insufficient staffing …

Complex reports that a number of luxury retail stores were invaded by looters in three French cities, including Louis Vuitton, Hermes, and Apple.

Looters ransacked Louis Vuitton and Apple stores in Bordeaux, another Apple location in Lille, and a Hermès boutique in Marseille during nationwide protests. The unrest also damaged municipal buildings and government offices, set vehicles ablaze, and led to roughly 1,200 arrests as turnout estimates ranged from 550,000 to 800,000.

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"Students" protesting and looting "books" to improve their studies

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The publication posted a carousel of photos and video clips on its Instagram account. One photo shows a looter carrying a Studio Display down the street, while a video clip shows an almost empty Apple Store as looters move through it.

Those stealing display products will be disappointed: they are configured with a kill switch that bricks them once they leave the store Wi-Fi coverage. The only thing they will do from that point onward is respond to Find My.

The violence and theft has been condemned by French President Emmanuel Macron, who said that “there is no room for violence in our Republic,” promising to ensure that offenders will be prosecuted and punished.

Photo: Jorge Jaramillo/CC4.0 (cropped for 2:1 ratio)

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Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Ben Lovejoy

Ben Lovejoy is a British technology writer and EU Editor for 9to5Mac. He’s known for his op-eds and diary pieces, exploring his experience of Apple products over time, for a more rounded review. He also writes fiction, with two technothriller novels, a couple of SF shorts and a rom-com!


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