Skip to main content

No, it’s not a good idea to take a gun-shaped iPhone case to an airport

no its not a good idea to take gun shaped iphone case an airport
Essex Police
When you’re looking for a case for your smartphone, what kind of considerations come to mind? Do you want a cool design that feels good in the hand, or something rugged to protect your device from serious knocks and scrapes? If storage and power is an issue, you’ll likely opt for something like this, though if you’re one for handling your phone in the shower, a waterproof number is sure to appeal.

For one iPhone user in the U.K. recently, it was none of the above. His idea was to put his handset in a case shaped like a gun, a decision that, perhaps not surprisingly, landed him in a whole load of trouble.

With strict gun control laws already in place in the U.K., even walking the streets with this thing is certain to attract the attention of law enforcement. But this guy took it one step further and carried it with him to a place with strict security – an international airport.

So it was no surprise he was quickly arrested. The incident took place earlier this week at Stansted airport, just north of London.

“This is what was in the back pocket … An iPhone case,” Essex police tweeted alongside an image of the accessory. “Someone decided to put themselves in such a situation today.”

In another tweet, a cop suggested that the guy with the gun-shaped case was lucky not to have found himself staring down the barrel of a real gun after his device was spotted. “You have a split decision to make,” the tweet said alongside the hashtag #WhatWouldYouDo.

Cops said the man at the center of the security scare may be charged with a public order offense or for carrying an imitation firearm in a public space.

The same accessory hit the headlines in Canada last year when it caused panic on a beach in Manitoba, Canada.

“Some people do not realize the risks associated with openly carrying or displaying these replicas in a public space,” a cop who responded to the incident said at the time. “Anyone who owns this type or similar devices should safely dispose of them immediately.”

Shortly before the incident, DT wrote a piece on the gun-shaped accessory titled, “Could this be the worst iPhone case ever invented?” What do you think?

Editors' Recommendations

Trevor Mogg
Contributing Editor
Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…
Something important just happened to the iPhone 16 series
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max larger displays.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max renders MacRumors

With  the calendar about to turn to June, attention on the upcoming iPhone 16 series will soon shift into an even higher gear. Along those lines, word is that production on a critical component for at least three of these phones is about to begin.

Read more
Can a $500 Pixel phone beat a $1,000 iPhone in a camera test? I found out
iPhone 15 Pro (left) and Google Pixel 8a camera modules.

Right before Google I/O 2024, Google showed off the latest Pixel device, the Google Pixel 8a. This is the latest offering from the Pixel A-series, which is a more budget-friendly Pixel for those who don’t need all the bells and whistles of the flagship Pixel 8 or 8 Pro.

The Pixel 8a features a new design with more rounded corners and a matte-finish back. It packs Google’s latest silicon, the Tensor G3, but the camera hardware remains unchanged from its predecessor, the Pixel 7a.

Read more
Arc Search, one of the best iPhone apps right now, just got even better
Arc Search's Call Arc feature.

One of our favorite iPhone browser apps has just introduced an interesting new feature. Arc Search’s new "Call Arc" tool functions similarly to making a phone call on your iPhone 15 Pro or other iPhone. Instead of speaking to someone on the other end of the line, though, you ask Arc to answer your queries. The outcome is fresh and unique, and it actually works really well.

Before its latest software update, Arc Search already offered a voice search feature. The AI-powered Call Arc is different and designed for people on the go who are looking for quick answers to short questions.

Read more