Apple stores in Bordeaux and Lille looted amid French protests
Video and photos circulating on social media show Apple stores in Bordeaux and Lille emptied by looters during nationwide French unrest, alongside Louis Vuitton stores in Bordeaux and a Hermès boutique in Marseille. The protests, which began over school staffing and overcrowding, also saw municipal buildings damaged, cars set on fire, and roughly 1,200 arrests amid turnout estimated between 550,000 and 800,000 people.
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The theft of Apple display units is unlikely to benefit the looters, since the devices carry a kill switch that disables them once removed from the store's Wi-Fi network, leaving them traceable only via Find My. French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence and pledged prosecution of offenders, signaling a government response to the unrest beyond the retail losses themselves.
- Apple stores in Bordeaux and Lille were among several luxury retailers looted during French protests.
- Stolen display devices are rendered inoperable by a kill switch once taken outside store Wi-Fi range.
- President Macron condemned the violence and vowed to prosecute those responsible.
Source: 9to5mac.com — Ben Lovejoy, 2026-10-21
Published there as: “Video shows French Apple store being emptied by looters”
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