New York police blame iPod craze for spike in subway crime

[Janice]

Newsday.com

New York police blame iPod craze for spike in subway crime

NEW YORK (AP) -- The iPod craze has spawned an iRob wave in city subways.

Appearing before the Metropolitan Transportation Authority board on Wednesday, police officials said 50 iPods have been reported stolen in the subway system so far this year, compared to none during the same period last year.

Thefts of the wildly popular portable music players and of cell phones fueled a 20 percent spike in robberies last month in the subway, officials said. Many of the iPod robberies involve students who take trains to and from school, police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said.

"It usually has to do with young people taking them from young people," Kelly said at a news conference.

In some cases, bandits have lifted the iPods from unsuspecting straphangers. In others, the thieves _ after spotting victims wearing the telltale white earphones _ have snatched the devices and fled out train doors.

It's believed most of the crooks keep the devices, which can retail for about $100 to $500, for personal use rather than sell them.

Reports of cell phone thefts have more than doubled to 165 from 82 last year. The thieves target high-tech models that allow them to insert their own computer cards and take over service, police said.

Police stressed that serious subway crimes were still down compared to 1995-2000, when the daily average fluctuated between 12 and 17 incidents. Even with the spike in iPod robberies, serious crimes has averaged between nine and 10 incidents a day this year, officials said.

"The numbers are remarkably low," Kelly said.

Police say they've stepped up patrols of uniformed and plainclothes officers to counter iPod thievery. Transit officials are considering a public awareness campaign.

On Web sites, iPod devotees have shared their own crimefighting tips. Some advise always keeping the devices concealed and switching to cheaper-looking earphones.

One site sold RetroPod kits, which would allow subway riders to disguise their iPods by concealing them inside the bulky casings of old Sony Walkmans. The sales stopped, the site said, after Sony complained.

[Janice]

TJL gets an iPod for Christmas and crime soars in New York over them.

Unbelieveable.

[SBTB Geek]

I have an iPod and I love it, but its annoying how people act as if its the only MP3 player in existence. Everyone refuses to buy other good (and some better) players that are out now- Dell, iRiver, Sony, and SanDisk have some nice ones out.

I feel weird using my iPod in public now, I feel so trendy.

[TJL]

A jogger in Central Park was attacked and robbed of his iPod last week.
I must admit that the spike in iPod related thefts has me a little more wary of my surroundings when I'm wearing mine.
I've been taking the subway alot more recently because of my job, and I keep alert.

I never display mine in the open. I keep it in an inside pocket.
I have been thinking about getting another pair of headphones in a different color to confuse thieves.
I'll only wear mine in crowded places. I'm not going to walk down 9th avenue on my way to work at 5 AM wearing the thing. The streets are deserted.

This may sound stupid, but if anyone tries to take mine, I'm going to fight for it.

[The Modfather]

Can you not just plug different head phones in it?

[MsOrange]

i have a RIO Mp3 player

[TripperFan]

I got one for Christmas and had never even heard of them before that!! I find the transmitter doesn't work all that great anyway, and since hearing of people getting beaten and robbed of theirs, I'm wary of even taking it away from home now!! I haven't even tried the headphones yet (at least I have long hair that will hide the headphones for the most part).

Drives me nuts that when you're away from home now you constantly have to keep aware of people trying to steal your iPod and/or cell phone.

[MsOrange]

I wish someone would steal my cell phone, it's a piece of

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by MsOrange

I wish someone would steal my cell phone, it's a piece of

Use it to hurl at the guy who tries to steal your Mp3 player!!!

[MsOrange]

Originally Posted by TripperFan

Use it to hurl at the guy who tries to steal your Mp3 player!!!

now there's an idea!

[robyrob]

Originally Posted by TJL

This may sound stupid, but if anyone tries to take mine, I'm going to fight for it.

maybe Apple should come out with another accessory for it - the iTaser (may require additional batteries)

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by robyrob

maybe Apple should come out with another accessory for it - the iTaser (may require additional batteries)

I like that idea!!! And yeah, they'd gouge us on the battery packs required. Hell - we'll all walk around look like terrorists wired for trouble!

[vashti1999]

Originally Posted by The Modfather

Can you not just plug different head phones in it?

Yes. In fact, I've never used the earphones that come with the iPod, and I'm talking before all this subway stealing craze has gone on. I never liked the kind of earphones that you stick inside your ear, so ever since I've had my iPod, I've used Sony MDR-G56 headphones, which were always my favorites. My iPod earphones are still in the plastic.

I still have my iPod with me everytime I travel on the subway. The key to not having it ripped off: just act a little crazy. New Yorkers are jaded and unfazed, but they won't mess with you if they think you're mental.

[TripperFan]

Originally Posted by vashti1999

The key to not having it ripped off: just act a little crazy. New Yorkers are jaded and unfazed, but they won't mess with you if they think you're mental.

Aren't you afraid you'll blend in just a little too much??

[TJL]

Originally Posted by Janice

TJL gets an iPod for Christmas and crime soars in New York over them.

Unbelieveable.

Everyone wants to be like the Tomster.

I just called myself the Tomster, and I'm not feeling very good about it.