Image: Apple
An Apple Store in Bordeaux was among a number of retailers looted during violent unrest in France on Saturday, with masked groups targeting stores along the city’s busy Rue Sainte-Catherine shopping district.
Reports from Bordeaux say the Apple Sainte-Catherine store was broken into as disorder spread through the city center, with other retailers including Louis Vuitton, Decathlon, Intersport, Snipes and Carrefour Express also targeted.
Le Parisien, citing AFP, reported that numerous stores in and around Rue Sainte-Catherine were vandalized and looted as groups of masked youths moved through central Bordeaux.
Social media posts circulating during the unrest claimed that some people entering the Apple Store were attempting to steal new iPhone 18 models. That specific detail has not been independently confirmed, and authorities have not publicly identified exactly which Apple products were taken.
The Apple Store involved is Apple Sainte-Catherine, located at 2-4 Rue Sainte-Catherine in central Bordeaux. Apple’s retail page was still showing regular opening information at the time of writing and had not posted a public statement about the incident.
The unrest formed part of wider demonstrations across France over the cost of living, public services and education, with violence and looting reported in multiple cities. Reuters reported that hundreds of thousands of people took part nationally, while clashes, fires, vandalism and hundreds of arrests were reported.
In Bordeaux, the situation escalated further after the official residence of the Gironde prefect was ransacked, prompting the deployment of France’s RAID tactical police unit. Authorities condemned the attacks on both public buildings and private businesses.
Apple Stores have been targeted during periods of unrest before. The Apple Post previously reported on rioters looting Apple’s Strasbourg store in 2023, when the location was damaged during widespread unrest in France.
Apple has also been working with law enforcement in other countries to make stolen iPhones less valuable to criminals. Earlier this year, The Apple Post reported on Apple’s work with police in the UK to tackle iPhone theft, building on protections such as Activation Lock and Stolen Device Protection.
It is not yet clear whether Apple Sainte-Catherine will remain closed following the damage or whether Apple will alter its upcoming opening hours. The store is currently listed by Apple with special hours on October 23, the same day iPhone Duo launches in stores.