Apple has begun rolling out an iPhone anti-theft device to its retail stores that can scan an in-box iPhone and run diagnostics to confirm the phone is fully intact while leaving the box sealed, allowing it to be returned to inventory.
The move addresses a growing problem in which some customers buy iPhones or other products and either remove accessories from the box, open devices to remove components, or take the entire device and then attempt to return the altered or empty box hoping employees will not notice.
Retail employees had been instructed to open boxes and verify contents when customers sought returns. Apple has developed the new scanning device to reduce wasted inventory by allowing staff to verify a device’s condition without unsealing the package.
How the iPhone anti-theft device works
According to reporter Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter, the tool can scan an in-box iPhone and run diagnostics on it to make sure the phone is fully intact, leaving the box sealed and able to be put back into inventory. Apple began rolling out the device to stores earlier this month, the report said.
