Apple Stores have reportedly rolled out a new anti-theft system for iPhones

Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reported today that Apple is facing a growing problem where some people buy iPhones or other products and remove accessories from the box, open the device and remove components, and/or remove the entire device, then attempt to return the box hoping the employee won’t notice.

When a customer wants to return an iPhone, he said Apple retail employees are typically instructed to open the box and check the contents, but Apple has since developed a solution that will reduce inventory waste.

In his To light up In today’s newsletter, Gurman said Apple has begun providing retail workers with a device that can “scan an iPhone in its box and run diagnostics on it to ensure the phone is fully intact, leaving the box sealed and suitable for return to inventory.” Apple began rolling out the device to stores earlier this month, he said.