The iPod Is Just A Gadget - That Muggers Love
12.08.06 - 10:58am
Posted in the Los Angeles Times, iPod thefts were shown to be on the rise with a 34% increase across the Southland. Nearly 2,000 cases have been reported this year. Low crime areas such as Malibu and Pepperdine are also seeing a rise in thefts.
The value of iPods, priced from $80 to $350, plus their small design and high reselling capabilities, make them a superb target amongst thieves. Also, taking them from someone simply walking down the street is easy for thieves and the white headphones are a stand-out telltale sign. Often people can be so immersed in their music that they are unaware as to what is going on around them. The majority of portable music players and cell phones are taken with a simple “grab and dash” approach. It’s fairly easy and quick as most people simply let the device go, rather than fight and risk getting shot or injured.
Ipods, laptops and cellphones left in cars are also an easy target. The “smash and grab” is used for those items left unattended. One would recommend that if leaving the like in your car, covering it with something or putting it in the trunk can save the device plus the cost of replacing your car window.
Libraries and Dorms on campus’s have also become prime targets for thieves. People too often simply walk away and leave their laptops or iPods at a desk while studying. It only takes a thief seconds to take it and disappear. Unlocked doors in dorm rooms are common as well leaving easy entry to discreet robbers.
In the bigger cities people are already taking the precautions of buying less vocal headphones, other than the standard white, especially when taking public transportation. Schools are now taking to locking computers to desks that are available for public use. It is also recommended for runners and people exercising to wear their iPods in an armband. The tight fit around the arm has made it a lot harder for muggers to operate.
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