Dallas police officer charged with stealing over $37,000 worth of Apple products
A Dallas police officer turned himself in July 10 on a third-degree felony theft charge after he was accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of Apple products.
Sr. Cpl. Le Chau, a Dallas officer since 2013, allegedly stole $37,806 worth of Apple products while working as an off-duty overnight security guard for multiple Apple Store locations, KDFW-TV reported. These locations include the stores on Knox Street and at NorthPark Mall and Galleria Dallas.
Apple’s Global Security Team brought evidence of the thefts to police, along with screenshots of Chau’s wife’s Facebook account selling Apple products on Facebook Marketplace, WFAA-TV reported.
The FBI detained Chau and his wife at DFW Airport in April and carried out a warrant to search his home the same day.
The Dallas Police Department issued an arrest warrant last week after the FBI notified local police of the thefts, KDFW reported.
Apple’s Global Security Team first noticed that the three stores had “exceptionally high” count variances — the difference between the expected inventory and the actual number of items in stock — over the last two years, placing them in the top 10 of all Apple Stores, according to WFAA.
The team homed in on Chau, stating that he “frequently spent time in the stockroom aisles and closely monitored Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras,” according to the arrest warrant affidavit obtained by CBS News.
The security team installed hidden cameras, which caught Chau hiding products in his Dallas police raid jacket and leaving the stores with duffel bags and backpacks, KDFW reported.
According to the affidavit, footage shows Chau climbing shelves with a trash picker to reach items on a top shelf, including a full box of AirPod Pros. In one instance, he stole $17,000 worth of products in one night, according to the affidavit.
Chau was assigned to the basic training academy, which prepares new recruits for work in the Dallas Police Department, KDFW reported. He was promoted to senior corporal in April 2018, according to a DPD X post.
DPD placed Chau on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. Chau is currently out on bond, according to jail records.
It is unclear whether Chau’s wife is being charged.
This story was originally published July 17, 2025 at 3:28 PM.