By Riffat Kausar
SNN News Finland
PARIS — Apple has disabled iPhones that were taken during the unrest in France, with the handsets displaying a lock-screen message that tells whoever is holding them to return the device to an Apple Store. The deactivation has become one of the most visible counter-measures in a wave of looting that has hit retailers across the country.
Apple locks stolen iPhones
Photographs and video circulated from the unrest show seized iPhones locked with a system message in French instructing the holder to hand the device back to an Apple Store, and stating that it has been deactivated and cannot be reactivated.
The English-language wording widely attached to those images describes the devices as “deactivated and tracked”. Apple designs its handsets so that a phone can stay locked to its owner’s account and be remotely disabled, which leaves a stolen unit of little use to a thief or to anyone who buys it second-hand while the original owner keeps control of the account.
That matters because resale is the purpose of most retail looting. A phone that cannot be activated carries almost no resale value, and every locked handset also displays a message identifying it as stolen property.
Insured losses could reach €1.2 billion
Early projections put the insured cost of the destruction and theft at between €1 billion and €1.2 billion, an estimate published by the credit ratings agency DBRS Morningstar. If losses settle near the top of that range, the unrest would rank as the costliest civil disturbance event recorded in mainland French history.
By way of comparison, the agency noted that insured damage from the unrest of 2023 came to roughly €730 million. Its analysts described the pattern as part of a wider trend in which civil unrest increasingly resembles the loss profile of a major natural catastrophe, with concentrated damage spread across many locations at once.
The figures remain preliminary. Retail bodies have so far described confirmed damage in the hundreds of millions of euros, and a final bill will depend on how many claims are filed and how they are assessed.
Around 3,000 storefronts hit
France’s trade minister has said at least 3,000 businesses nationwide were damaged or looted, from small convenience stores to luxury boutiques. High-end shops were among those targeted.
Stolen luxury goods have begun appearing on online resale platforms, prompting renewed scrutiny of how quickly looted stock reaches second-hand marketplaces. The government has promised emergency financial support and employment assistance for affected companies. SNN News Finland has previously reported on disruption to French retail, including a cyberattack that hit 150 grocery stores.
Curfews, arrests and a widened crackdown
The unrest, which peaked around 17 October, prompted authorities to reinforce police in major cities including Paris, Lyon and Marseille and to impose curfews in some areas. Around 2,500 people were arrested across the country over the weekend, and officials have said further measures, including a possible state of emergency, remain under discussion.
The violence has unfolded alongside other flashpoints SNN has covered overseas, among them protest violence in Guadalajara and a rise in reported street crime near Lyon.
For retailers, the immediate question is insurance and recovery. For the thousands of small businesses caught up in the violence, the damage is measured not only in stolen stock but in lost trading days during a period that was meant to be a peak season.
Key facts
- Apple: iPhones taken during the looting have been disabled, with a lock-screen message telling holders to return the device to an Apple Store.
- Insured losses: estimated at €1 billion to €1.2 billion, according to the ratings agency DBRS Morningstar.
- Comparison: insured damage from the 2023 unrest was about €730 million.
- Businesses affected: France’s trade minister says at least 3,000 outlets were damaged or looted.
- Response: curfews in some areas, around 2,500 arrests, and extra police in Paris, Lyon and Marseille.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stolen iPhone still be used?
Not while the owner keeps the device linked to their account. A locked handset cannot be activated normally and shows a message saying it has been deactivated.
How much could the unrest cost insurers?
Early estimates range from €1 billion to €1.2 billion, which would exceed the roughly €730 million in insured damage from the 2023 unrest.
How many businesses were affected?
France’s trade minister has put the figure at about 3,000 nationwide.
Why does this matter for retailers?
Looting removes saleable stock, while curfews cut trading days. For small businesses in particular, the combined effect can be severe.
Has a state of emergency been declared?
No. Officials have said it is among the options under discussion; curfews in some areas are the measure imposed so far.
Verified by Scandinavian News Agency Finland.
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