As sturdy as it looks, the glass facade on the new Apple store at Highland Village was no match for a gun-toting vandal who shot up a series of windows along Westheimer in late April. Two large windows facing the street were shattered, but have remained intact despite the bullet holes.

In recent days, the store covered the glass panels with a black plastic film that tastefully covers the spider webs of cracks, while adding a sense of security for those walking by the severely damaged windows. This plastic black covering now above the entrance bears the Apple insignia.

When CultureMap stopped by the store Monday, a friendly manager said he could not comment on the incident, the status of the windows or their new casing. Michaela Wilkinson, a spokesperson with Apple's corporate offices, was equally silent about the matter when contacted later.

Upon close inspection (see photos), one can spot the extensive damage beneath the plastic sheathing that covers the glass on the interior and exterior.

The security guard on duty at the Apple store was not hurt in the shooting, which occurred in the early morning hours of April 30.

Other victimized storefronts included a Chevron station near Westheimer and Wilcrest as well as upscale furniture store Cantoni by the Gessner intersection. The rear window of a truck was shattered at a Westheimer Valero station at Kirkwood while its owner was at the fuel pump. Luckily, no injuries were reported in the shootings.

Apple fans have expressed concern, but remain fearless in the wake of the incident. "I'm glad no one was hurt. But are the iPad's okay?" joked one poster on the blog MacRumors. "Must've been some Android fanboys."

"One can only hope that this miscreant is caught quickly," commented CNET blogger Chris Matyszczyk. "Houston's image cannot be further besmirched with such random acts of pointlessness."

Officials from the Houston Police Department are asking the public to contact Crime Stoppers at 713-777-TIPS with any information on the drive-by window shooting.