Staff member recorded saying security guards wanted group of six teenagers to leave Melbourne store because they were worried ‘they might steal something’

This article is more than 4 years old

This article is more than 4 years old

A group of black teenagers was told to leave an Apple store in Melbourne because staff were worried they “might steal something”.

A video of the interaction between a Highpoint Apple store staff member and a group of students was uploaded to Facebook on Tuesday night.



The six boys from Maribyrnong College were denied entry to the store by a staff member and two security guards.

“These guys [security guards] are just a bit worried about your presence in our store. They’re just worried you might steal something,” the Apple staff member says in the video.

A member of the group replied: “Why would we steal something?”

Many comments on social media say it was a blatant case of racial profiling.

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“That’s what people do, racial profiling happens a lot, and white Australians want to ignore that. Smart of u guys for recording it,” Fardawsa Shanino wrote on Facebook.

Another Facebook user, Joel Kipchumba, said he would camp outside the Apple store involved in protest on Saturday.

“Yes ‪#‎RacisminAustralia‬ is kicking strong,” he wrote.

People also criticised the store on Twitter.

Yaqub Ahmed (@yukzaaboii11) Australia's logic: darker pigmentation correlates with stealing @Crypticgirl_

helz belz (@hxlina) i'm trembling i'm so pissed off and i don't know where to redirect my anger. apple doesn't even have a twitter account how do i go off

The Two Chairs (@TheTwoChairs) @tim_cook Please ensure all #AppleStore staff are trained in anti #racialbias training esp. this one in #Melbourne https://t.co/cL9RRZG3ud

One of the students evicted from the store, Mabior Ater, told Fairfax Media that he had been going to the Highpoint shopping centre for a long time.

“I never thought something like this would happen ... of course I was offended,” he said.

Ater said the principal of their school accompanied the students back to the store to help them in seeking an apology.

“[The manager] apologised to us and told us that we are welcome here anytime,” he said. “It feels like we have justice now.”

An Apple Australia spokeswoman told Guardian Australia that the company would not be commenting.