iPods blamed for subway crime

[Electrix]

iPods blamed for subway crime
New York
April 28, 2005

The iPod craze has spawned a crimewave in New York subways.

Police told the city transportation board yesterday that 50 iPods had been reported stolen on the subways so far this year, compared to none during the same period last year.

Mobile phone thefts have more than doubled to 165 from 82 last year.

The thefts fuelled a 20 per cent spike in robberies last month on the subway, officials said.

Most thieves are believed to keep the devices, which in the US retail at $US100 to $US500 ($A130 - $A645).

"It usually has to do with young people taking them from young people," said police Commissioner Raymond Kelly.

Thieves spot people with the telltale white earphones, then snatch the iPods and run from the trains. On websites, iPod devotees suggest keeping them concealed and switching to cheaper-looking earphones.

An average of nine to 10 serious crimes occur daily on New York's subway, officials said.

Kelly called the number "remarkably low" and attributed it to extra police patrols.

[url=\"http://smh.com.au/articles/2005/04/28/1114635673105.html?oneclick=true\"][Source=Smh.com.au][/url]

[audio]

Why blame iPODs? They're only sandwiches, noone really gets hurt.

LOL

[Tami]

I don\'t think that crime in and of itself has increased, just the focus of what gets stolen has increased. I\'m sure that during the 60\'s it was transistor radios, in the 80\'s it was boom boxes...it\'s just a new trend in petty theft.

[Jimmy]

Lameo, Thats like blaming NesCafe for you spilling your coffee. Some people just have no idea.