Thieves steal iPhones in rooftop heist

Thieves have made off with millions of dollars worth of iPhones in a daring heist from a Belgian warehouse.

The thieves climbed a fire ladder to the roof of the warehouse, Belgium's De Standaard said.

They then entered the building through a hole cut directly above where the 4000 phones, which had a market value of about US$3.2 million, were being stored.

The thieves are thought to have had inside knowledge of the shipment of phones to the warehouse in Willebroek, but the Netherlands-based logistics company CEVA, that owns the facility, would not provide an official comment yesterday, De Standaard said.

The iPhones were destined for mobile operator Mobistar, which had a long waiting list for the popular handsets.

Police have so far failed to track the thieves but Mobistar said it would block the serial numbers of stolen iPhones so they could not be used.

Patti Verdoodt of Mobistar told De Standaard that its supplier had promised to deliver a new shipment, which would be needed more than ever in the lead-up to the holiday sales period.

- © Fairfax NZ News