A video shared on X by user Damani Felder has drawn widespread attention for showing what appears to be a group of individuals who stole iPhones from an Apple Store in Los Angeles, only to discover that the devices were rendered useless and tracked remotely. In the video, the stolen phones display a clear message on their screens: “Please return to Apple Tower Theatre. This device has been disabled and is being tracked. Local authorities will be alerted.”

The incident occurred during widespread riots in Downtown Los Angeles. What initially began as peaceful protests in response to recent immigration raids quickly escalated into looting and property damage across the area. Among the businesses affected was the Apple Store located in Downtown LA, which was targeted by looters during the unrest.

The message appeared on the phone is reportedly part of security software that Apple installs on iPhones displayed in its retail stores. According to a report by CNN, this software is not found on consumer-purchased iPhones, but is specifically designed to track, disable, and help recover devices stolen during store thefts or looting events.

Apple has reportedly used this technology for years as a way to deter theft from its stores. The system allows the company to track stolen items and alert law enforcement. Once a demo phone is removed from a store environment, it automatically locks and shows a warning message. This function renders the phone unusable and allows it to act as a tracking device for authorities.

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Reactions online were swift and critical of the individuals involved in the theft. One user wrote, “I always laugh when I see a group of thug morons loot an Apple Store. They’re clueless about the remote disable or the fact that they can track the location of those same items.” Another added, “Imagine stealing a tracking device and then being surprised it’s a tracking device.”

“Interesting and sad to realize that theft and looting happen so often that Apple had to code a disable function like this,” one comment read. Another user suggested, “Too bad the system can’t silently track the thief and let police handle it without warning them.”