Police seek help in $35,000 Santa Rosa Apple store heist

Santa Rosa police are seeking the public’s help in identifying three hooded thieves who staged a brazen heist at the Santa Rosa Plaza Apple Store, making off with more than $35,000 in merchandise while employees and other customers stood by.

Police said the three men entered the ground-floor store just after 8 p.m. Wednesday while shoppers were still present, walking casually to the entrance before breaking into a run as they swept through the store.

In just over 20 seconds, they managed to swipe more than $35,000 in electronics from display tables near the door, yanking the model devices free from their tethers, according to surveillance tape that caught the whole thing. One of the culprits even turned back to pick up several items that had dropped to the floor just outside the door as he fled.

The case is similar to a half-dozen lightning-fast thefts at California Apple stores in recent weeks, including incidents in Corte Madera, Walnut Creek, Roseville, Fresno, Valencia and Thousand Oaks.

Police investigators are hoping to talk to witnesses, especially anyone who may have taken photographs or video of the suspects involved.

Anyone with information is asked to called detectives at 707-543-3575.

You can reach Staff Writer Mary Callahan at 707-521-5249 or mary.callahan@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MaryCallahanB.