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Several alleged gang members and robbers learned a little too late that they shouldn’t mess with Bellevue.

Bellevue Police officers have apprehended five suspects linked to several robberies at local Apple stores, including two in Bellevue where they made off with more than $16,000 worth of iPhones. They were caught after a second stop at the Bellevue Square Apple store on Feb. 18.

During the arrest, the suspects were reportedly heard saying “I told you we should never have come to Bellevue,” according to police.

The group was apprehended after one of the police department’s Special Enforcement Team members heard the 911 call while he was driving nearby. The officer was able to locate the suspect’s vehicle on Interstate 405 South, following it to Lake Washington Boulevard, where he and additional officers stopped the suspect’s vehicle.

More than $5,800 worth of stolen iPhones were reportedly recovered in their vehicle.

These men are also believed to have robbed the Bellevue Square Apple store on Feb. 1. On that occasion, six men reportedly entered the store wearing hooded sweatshirts and grabbed around 13 iPhones before fleeing. In all, they were reportedly in and out of the store within 25 seconds.

The suspect’s descriptions also match large-scale grab-and-runs at Apple stores in Southcenter and Tacoma, according to police.

“We believe that this group was active all along the Interstate 5 corridor, possibly down to Portland. So, we’re very fortunate that the officer was in the right place at the right time,” said Bellevue Police spokesperson Seth Tyler.

All five men have criminal histories and are self-professed gang members, according to police. Three of the suspects had active warrants out for their arrest, including for assault, unlawful possession of a firearm, probation violations and unlawful transit conduct.

The sixth man involved in the Feb. 1 robbery was reportedly a lookout.

They are expected to be charged with organized retail theft.

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