Apple fans storm Short Pump Town Center for iPhone 6 release

Die-hard iPhone fans lined up outside the Far West End mall long before the 6:00 AM opening time.

September 19, 2014; 11:25 AM • by Trevor Dickerson

All around the world today, folks are lining up in droves at Apple Stores to be among the first to get their hands on the latest iPhones–the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

Short Pump Town Center was no exception, with a crowd forming at the mall’s entrance before it opened to the public at 6:00 AM.

Henrico Police and mall security did their best to keep shoppers at bay, telling the crowd that anyone who attempted to enter early would be ejected from Short Pump property.

A WTVR-TV/CBS6 viewer sent footage from the scene that showed crowds rushing towards the Short Pump Apple Store and forming two lines; one for Internet pre-orders and another for those without pre-orders who want to take their chances on limited store inventory.

From the video:

“The store is not yet open folks. If you run or run through there, they are going to eject you from the mall,” a uniformed Henrico Police officer warned Apple iPhone fans who waited outside Short Pump Town Center for the mall to open.

“No running. No pushing. No arguing with anyone,” a woman who appeared to be a member of mall security said as 6 a.m. approached. “I don’t know why you’re coming forward. Back up.”

Personally, I’ll never understand why people fight for a primo spot (and with one another) and camp out in long lines for a smartphone–after all, you can have it shipped right to your doorstep without even leaving the house. But that’s just me.