A Dallas police officer has been accused of stealing Apple merchandise worth $37,000 while working off-duty as an overnight security guard at local Apple Stores. The arrest came after Apple’s security team, puzzled by unusual stock losses at its Dallas outlets—NorthPark, Knox Street, and the Galleria—launched a discreet investigation. Hidden cameras and surveillance footage allegedly caught the officer smuggling products in his uniform. The case now unveils a dramatic twist where duty and theft dangerously collided under the watchful glow of retail lights and silent store cameras.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
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Apple’s Dallas stores reported unusually high stock discrepancies.
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Senior Cpl. Le Chau was allegedly caught on camera stealing merchandise.
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Chau reportedly concealed AirPods in his police jacket, hid a trash picker down his pants.
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Apple security installed covert cameras after initial suspicions.
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Chau’s wife allegedly sold Apple products on Facebook Marketplace.
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Chau has been placed on leave during an internal police investigation.
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Officer joined the Dallas Police Department in 2013, assigned to the Basic Academy.
A Dallas police officer, once trusted to safeguard local Apple retail outlets during his off-duty hours, is now at the center of a startling criminal investigation. According to an arrest warrant affidavit obtained by WFAA, Senior Corporal Le Chau has been accused of stealing thousands of dollars in merchandise from three Apple Stores across the Dallas area — all while wearing his police uniform.
Apple’s internal security team first raised red flags after noticing troubling patterns across its Dallas locations — particularly stores at NorthPark, Knox Street, and the Galleria. Over the course of two years, these stores reported what Apple described as “exceptionally high” stock discrepancies. These irregularities placed them among the top ten nationwide for inventory loss, sparking a deeper look into the possible cause.
Apple’s security division, in response to the repeated loss reports, launched an internal investigation. After combing through hours of surveillance footage, their attention quickly narrowed to one recurring figure: an off-duty police officer consistently seen arriving with duffel bags and leaving with them “fully loaded.”
The affidavit outlines an especially revealing incident from March. Surveillance footage allegedly shows Chau climbing onto the top shelf of a stockroom, using a trash picker to grab hard-to-reach Apple products — including a sealed box of AirPods Pro. The report states he attempted to discreetly hide the box in his police jacket and slipped the trash picker down his pants.
“Serial numbers from that specific AirPods box were later discovered in a trash can inside the store’s restroom,” police investigators confirmed in the affidavit.
In another recorded moment from the same month, Chau was reportedly seen stuffing items into his Dallas Police Department-issued jacket before making a quiet exit from the store. These scenes prompted Apple to take their internal investigation a step further. Covert surveillance equipment was discreetly installed, which the affidavit claims captured Chau actively removing merchandise from the store during his overnight shifts.
Adding another layer to the case, Apple investigators also presented law enforcement with screenshots from Chau’s wife’s Facebook profile. The images, as described in the affidavit, show listings of Apple merchandise on Facebook Marketplace, suggesting the stolen items may have been sold online.
The Dallas Police Department has since acknowledged the situation. “Senior Corporal Le Chau has been placed on administrative leave while an internal investigation proceeds,” a department spokesperson stated. Chau, who has served with the department since 2013, was most recently assigned to the department’s Basic Academy.
While no formal statement has been released by Chau or his legal representatives, the allegations have cast a sharp spotlight on the role of off-duty officers working private security and the level of trust extended to law enforcement personnel within corporate spaces.
Apple, known for its strict internal controls, has not issued a public comment on the incident but has fully cooperated with law enforcement throughout the investigation. The company’s detailed tracking systems and surveillance footage proved critical in identifying the pattern of losses — a process that ultimately led to the officer’s arrest.
As the investigation continues, the case raises broader concerns about internal theft, oversight in private security hiring, and how even the most secure retail environments can become vulnerable from within.
The unfolding investigation into the alleged thefts at Apple Stores in Dallas reveals a disturbing breach of trust, where a sworn officer is now at the center of a high-value retail scandal. As evidence mounts—surveillance footage, covert recordings, and digital traces—the case highlights the vulnerabilities even within heavily secured environments. While the Dallas Police Department conducts its internal inquiry, the incident serves as a sharp reminder that misconduct can stem from unexpected quarters, and accountability remains crucial—regardless of the badge or uniform worn.
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