Apple is rolling out a new in-store anti-theft system designed to identify when returned iPhones have been tampered with or partially removed while still in their packaging. The device lets staff inspect the phone and run diagnostics without opening the box, aiming to reduce missing-device fraud and prevent unnecessary inventory handling.
Reports say the scanners have started arriving at Apple Stores earlier in October and are becoming operational as the rollout progresses. Coverage notes that the move addresses a pattern where some customers buy products and later attempt to return them after removing accessories, components, or the phone itself, hoping employees do not notice.
Outlets generally describe the same function and purpose—detecting missing or altered devices while keeping boxes sealed—but differ slightly in emphasis, including how quickly stores are receiving the scanners and the extent to which reporting traces the rollout to a specific journalist’s account.
