iPhones Mean More Young Muggers

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly explained why there are more younger muggers these days: It's the iPhone!

The News reports, "Juveniles [ages 11-19] accounted for 29% of the 7,340 robbery arrests and 27% of the 4,566 grand larceny busts this year, an 8% jump in each category compared to this time last year." Kelly said, "The explosive popularity of these devices has also made them inviting targets for thefts. Teens are commonly the culprits as well as the victims." A police source put it more bluntly, "A kid taking out an iPhone and using it is like waving around $300."

When iPods were first introduced, there was a huge spike in iPod-related crime (even private school kids were stealing them), even a mugging that turned into murder. One social scientist likened iPods to "walking around with a $100 bill taped to your back or something." More recently, a sommelier was mugged at BB point, with his assailants taking his money and iPhone, and some youths were arrested for trying to offer cheap iPhones to gullible Craigslisters.

Also a classic: The Stolen Sidekick Soap Opera.

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By Jen Chung in News on July 26, 2008 5:40 PM

Comments [rss]

Snoopy

Back to you Chet.

"On the bright side of things,crime has dropped 8% for those perpetrators over nineteen, or am I reading mayor Kelly's figures wrong?"

Spirit of 76

[7] Wrong. It's not that hard to unlock the iPhone and use it on any GSM carrier, including overseas ones. All it takes is a few programs that anyone can find on the net. Unlocked iPhones go for hundreds over retail on eBay because most people either don't know how or are too scared to risk the jailbreak and/or unlock procedures. Any kid who steals a working iPhone can get quite a bit of money even without unlocking it himself, because people on eBay will be happy to buy it, unlock it and sell it for a hefty profit.

Rfive

Who pays the cell phone ? The kid's parents!

west side Michael

Lets blame purse manufacturers for purse

stealing criminals,Nice!

True the minute the phone is reported stolen

or if a secret password is used to put it on

which the robber would not access the Iphone

becomes as enjoyable as a blackboard eraser.

Anna_Merkin

I always wonder what sort of people have perfect hands like the model in that picture.

"I wonder what's the racial breakdown of these young criminals."

Sure.

I wonder what's the entire demographic makeup of these kids - especially the income level of their households.

Moreover, I wonder what made up the rest of the 8% jump in robbery and grand larceny arrests. Clearly, the personal music devices/smart phones do not explain the jump alone.

I understand that the police spokesmen and Commissioner Kelly are eager to give the public a simple, "It's the shoes, Mars" explanation for a jump in crime but there's more to it. They just haven't figured out the appropriate policing strategies for a response, so it's easy to blame the popularity of a device/consumer item.

Doesn't anyone question just a little bit deeper?

virgil

"I wonder what's the racial break down of these young criminals."

Of course you do.

Novanglus

I'm a juvenile defense attorney...

No you're not.

ixvnyc

The cop who said that is an idiot.

iPhone is useless without AT&T service which will get disconnected as soon as the iPhone is stolen, and which you will not be able to get for a stolen iPhone. Stolen iPhones have $0 street value, not $300.

#3 is right: it's all about the Sidekicks if you are a mugger. It can be resold easily.

NannyState

Advertising works!

Spear_Chucker

I wonder what's the racial break down of these young criminals.

Steven

I'd like to know who is paying for their cell phone plan? Having a smart phone as a teen is a complete waste of money. Teens have it more to show off their friends and make them jealous.

holyfrijole

I'm a juvenile defense attorney and have yet to see one iPhone case. Every week on arraignments, though, I see multiple Sidekick cases. Kids don't want iPhones -- too complicated and you need a computer to make it work. But Sidekicks -- they can sell it for a couple hundred bucks or just change the sim card. It's gotten so ridiculous that even the judges think it's an epidemic.