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$1.5 million worth of iPad Mini tabs stolen from JFK

Bold theft from a cargo building at New York's biggest airport this week nets thousands of the new smaller tablets that had just arrived from China.

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Eric Mack has been a CNET contributor since 2011. Eric and his family live 100% energy and water independent on his off-grid compound in the New Mexico desert. Eric uses his passion for writing about energy, renewables, science and climate to bring educational content to life on topics around the solar panel and deregulated energy industries. Eric helps consumers by demystifying solar, battery, renewable energy, energy choice concepts, and also reviews solar installers. Previously, Eric covered space, science, climate change and all things futuristic. His encrypted email for tips is ericcmack@protonmail.com.
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Eric Mack
Watch this: iPad Mini First Look: The teeny, tiny iPad

The iPad Mini has been boosted in New York, but not in a good way.

The New York Post is reporting that thieves have stolen $1.5 million worth of iPad Minis from a building at JFK airport. Police told the paper the crooks somehow gained access to the cargo storage area late Monday night and used an airport forklift to load two pallets containing about 3,600 tablets in total into a large truck.

According to the report, the criminals left three more pallets of tablets on the tarmac after rushing off when an airport worker returned from a break.

Apparently the iPads had just arrived from China for distribution around the U.S. For the time being, while the suspects are still at large, they appear destined instead for one huge -- and illegitimate -- unboxing party.

Steve Jobs really was way off when he said no one would ever want a smaller tablet; turns out they're worth risking jail time for.