Microsoft office thieves take only Apple iPads

Microsoft's Silicon Valley research centre has been raided by thieves but only Apple products were taken, according to reports.

Five Apple iPads, worth more than $3,000 (£1,865), were stolen some time between December 19 and 26, say police.

Two iPad 2s, two third generation iPads and one fourth generation iPad were taken from three offices at Microsoft's Mountain View research and development complex.

Microsoft employees reported the theft when they returned to work after the Christmas break.

Police said no Microsoft products were reported stolen. However, the building targeted is reported to be the base for the Microsoft team that builds software for Apple hardware so the presence of iPads is unsurprising.

News of the theft broke last week as a clipping from the Palo Alto Daily Post circulated online. The clipping was dismissed by some tech writers as a mock-up, given the irony of a story in which Microsoft it targeted by thieves but only for a competitor's product.