The iPhone could be in short supply across Belgium this Christmas, because thieves have stolen some 4000 units of the smartphone worth an estimated €2m (£1.7m/$2.9m).

After using a fire ladder to climb onto the roof of a logistics company’s “immense” warehouse in Willebroek, Belgium last weekend, the smart phone thieves then cut a hole in the roof directly above where the iPhones were being stored – according to a report by website De Standard.

The thieves obviously had some insider knowledge about when and where the Apple bounty would be deposited.

The iPhone cargo was destined for network operator Mobistar, which has since said it knows the serial number of every stolen iPhone – rendering the handsets useless.

A fresh supply of iPhones is currently on its way to Mobistar. Hopefully the hole in the warehouse roof has since been patched. ®

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