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The NYPD announced an increase in subway crimes, many of them stemming from people stealing iPods and cellphones. NYPD Deputy Commissioner Paul Browne told the media, "The robbery increase is linked to a rash of forced taking of cell phones and iPods by juveniles from other juveniles." But it doesn't stop at the subways: Apparently people listening to their iPods at bus stops are very enticing to thieves. A police source tells the Daily News that many iPod thefts happen at night:
The crooks grab an iPod and jump off trains just as the doors are closing - an old-time technique that's proven useful in snatching the high-tech devices. "They time it right and they're home free," the officer said.
The NYPD stressed that while subway felonies are up 14% versus one year ago, the subways are still safer than than were in the 1995-2000 period. Still, all of you who got your Playstation Portables at midnight last week and are whiling away subway waits with them: BEWARE.
Do you do anything special to prevent people from stealing your prized gadgets? Do you have a different set of headphones for your iPod? Do you purposefully not put deodorant on so no one approaches you? And Gothamist on school kids being targeted for their iPods.
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Almost makes me want to start riding the subways after midnight iPodded up to my eyebrows. How about cameras, more cops (under and over cover), security guards, Guardian Angels, extremely tough jail sentences for muggers (if caught) including chain-gang subway cleaning duty, or just stop all train service after 10 p.m. Whatever works.
different cheap headphones... but i take my ipod out of my pocket so often i doubt that ruse works. i think i'll start sitting in the middle of the car now.
possessions are fleeting
My iPod case is covered in special poison-tipped spikes that make thieves start trippin' ballzzz and then vomit out of their eyeballs.
i saw a woman's ipod get snatched, but the guy got caught at the turnstile due to some vigilance from bystanders and a cop. When the cop handcuffed the thief, the lady went up to the thief and kicked him in the balls. Very funny
Easiest solution: Don't use the device if you're on a late night subway.
A friend saw someone with a PSP on the subway playing with it the day of it's release. I said he should have beaten him up for it out of shear stupidity. If you value your possessions, don't be stupid with them.
I never understood why people sit there with their ipods in their hands (steal it please!)... the thing has a playlists... push play and keep it in your pocket or your bag. Not saying stealing's right. But some people deserve it.
"If you value your possesions, don't be stupid with them."
Not that the world is not a dangerous place but I'll take my friggin possessions with me when and where I want. And a golden shower for all muggers.
And I know I left an "s" out of "possessions". You just can't stop "Post" once it starts.
Is it wrong that I have a perverse desire to use iPod headphones on my crappy old CD player, just to upset any muggers that would get the $49 Discman? I switch headphones between iPod/Discman/etc. all the time anyway because I'm not that loyal.
Sam Park: Really, people "deserve" to be mugged? That's a bit blame-the-victim, isn't it?
A good renter's insurance policy covers muggings, I believe. I wish I'd known that *before* I'd gotten mugged--it would have saved me hundreds of dollars (changing locks, crappy CD player, glasses, phone, etc.). But silly me, going around deserving to be mugged for having the audacity to walk the mean streets of Park Slope on a Saturday afternoon, right?
I'm just glad we didn't have to go more than 10 posts without someone claiming that people using their possessions in public deserve to be stolen from. Let's hear it for bourgeois contrarianism!
Sam Park,
Man, you are totally right. Like that time I date-raped that girl at the club...I guess date rape is technically "wrong" but she sure was asking for it by wearing that tight tank top.
Whatevs.
I think that like anything else, what one person has, another may try to snatch.
I don't think people are "stupid" but I do think people need to be aware of their surrounding and act appropriately. If you have a PSP and you are by yourself, you might think twice about using it in a Subway car filled with Noisy High school kids as some joker in the crowd might do a Snatch and run.
since nyc prevents its citizens from defending themselves 2nd amendment style, discretion is a good second option.
or just hold onto the damn thing. there's that as well.
I thwart muggers by using generic and slightly outdated technology. Oh no, wait, that's because I don't have any money.
Anyway, maybe it also helps to listen to your headphones at a low enough level that you can still hear what's going on around you. And then actually look around at people every now and then. I'd imagine the muggers using the snatch and grab technique look for people who aren't paying attention.
someone should start making ipod decoys.
Are you people who are surprised by muggings not from the metro area or something?
Native people from NY and Jersey seem to understand that uhh... people steal crap here, especially when you're an idiot. Whatever happened to being 'street smart'? Next thing you know, Rose, you'll actually give a handout to someone.
Rose, I wasn't meaning anything personal, or even saying that people should hide their iPods and PSPs in their homes and never emerge with them. All I said was don't be stupid. Like others have mentioned use caution where you use them, I gladly ride with my iPod ever since I picked one up when they were first released. There is a difference between being stupid and being smart.
I wear different color headphones than the ones that came with my iPod. But that's because the pair that are bundled with the device SUCK. At least they did two years ago when I got mine.
While waiting in line for the taxi at the airport, I recently saw someone wearing their iPod on one of those armband holders, the kind you use for jogging. While I thought it was neat that I could see what he was listening to ("Paradise City" by Guns N' Roses), I also thought it was pretty dumb because it could be snatched away pretty easily.
While i never had my ipod stolen, i was pickpocketed (on the m104) because i was too busy paying attention to what i was listening to, and not paying attention to my surrondings. Sucks? Yeah, but its new york, it's not right, but it's not shocking, either.
more annoying than the theft was the NYPD trying to shunt of my crime to other precints so it wouldn't be recorded in their statistics.
People turn the stones on their diamond ring around but carry that ipod out in the open ala ipod ad.
Now you tell me who's stupid?
listen, people steal stuff see on TV and don't have.
you're lucky ipod's aren't mentioned in any rap songs yet.
Stupid? Smart? Gutless? Foolish? Oh, behave!
I take with me what I want.
John Z:
yes, that's exactly what I was talking about. Careless people who should know better and your date rape.
Idiot.
Rose:
Ok, I didn't literally mean 'deserve'. (maybe just a litle bit?) But you should take the part about me calling John Z an idiot for his comment literally.