iCrime wave?
posted at 3:34 pm on September 28, 2007 by Bryan
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iPods have been around since 2004. Crime has been going up in the US since 2004. Call me skeptical that there’s a connection. But it’s possible. Kids still occasionally kill each other over Air Jordans.
First, the recent increase in robbery has been disproportionately greater than increases in other economically motivated crimes, such as theft and burglary.
Second, the recent increase in robbery has been greatest among juvenile offenders, among whom iPods “are highly valued as a status symbol.”
Third, robberies increased in particular from 2004 to 2006, the very period when iPods entered the mass market and became ubiquitous among consumers.
The authors also offer four reasons iPod owners might be particularly susceptible to crime. First, iPods have “no easily accessible antitheft protection,” unlike, say, automobiles and laptop computers. Second, unlike cellphones, iPods do not require a subscription, so a robber can continue to use them even after a victim reports the theft. Third, iPods may be “stolen for their status,” and not merely as items to be resold. Finally, iPod users are likely to be more distracted and less aware of their surroundings. Add to that the fact that iPods are distinctive looking and typically worn in public places, the authors warn, and the result is that “the device is a lightning rod for criminals.”
If you’re in the habit of wearing your iPod, let’s be careful out there.
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Looks like AP is taking his iPhone quest into his own hands.
Number 2 on September 28, 2007 at 3:39 PM
Michelle is saving AP from personal destruction, and from possibly being a crime statistic.
right2bright on September 28, 2007 at 3:39 PM
I’m using this post to tell everyone to read the book Jennifer Government by Max Barry.
Nonfactor on September 28, 2007 at 3:42 PM
iThingies are a great barometer for herdthink
Ochlan on September 28, 2007 at 3:45 PM
Why does Steve Jobs hate America?
Hoodlumman on September 28, 2007 at 3:46 PM
I seriously doubt there’s a link. And if you’re worried about getting mugged for your iPod, buy a different set of ear buds and don’t pull your iPod out all the time. Simple. “Oh he has line green earbuds on…must be a Zen. He’s not worth mugging.”
DakRoland on September 28, 2007 at 3:47 PM
??? Not your site, dude.
Bryan on September 28, 2007 at 3:48 PM
To avoid the earbud/chorded issues…howabout going bluetooth?
http://www.motorola.com/motoinfo/product/details.jsp?globalObjectId=177
Ochlan on September 28, 2007 at 3:53 PM
I never realized that theft, burglary, and robbery were all that different. These are things that give ESL students headaches.
tikvah on September 28, 2007 at 3:55 PM
This reminds me of that Dateline special a few weeks back about how iPod thefts were on the rise. They ran a sting operation to catch the thieves, but they left the iPods alone on park benches and on top of cars (stuff most prudent people would not do with a $400 device). The thefts were all easily preventable with common sense.
Nosferightu on September 28, 2007 at 4:05 PM
Wire your IPod to a circuit board on your chest attached to a Play-Doh filled cartidge belt, and people leave you alone. Just don’t go near airports.
Hening on September 28, 2007 at 4:06 PM
I have a great iPod theft deterent. It’s truly amazing and practical. Her name is Kami and she’s a 75lb over-protective Greyhound. I’ve trained her to aim for the crotch when I yell “HILLARY!”
robblefarian on September 28, 2007 at 4:09 PM
Good point–never thought about it. I’ll take a stab at it:
Theft is merely taking something without breaking into a place–i.e., iPod left on top of a car or on a bench. Burglary is the act of breaking into a home or car and “burgling” it (as they say in England) and robbery is probably defined as accosting someone with intent to burgle them.
Ya’ll can correct me if I’m wrong.
robblefarian on September 28, 2007 at 4:12 PM
iPods have been around since 2001, it’s just that only the coolest people owned the early 5gb model with firewire.
digitalintrigue on September 28, 2007 at 4:16 PM
Chris Hanson did a “Dateline” special on Ipod theft awhile back. If I remember correctly, they took new Ipods in the box and substituted their own installation CD for the original. They then left them on benches, dashboards of unlocked cars, etc. and filmed the theft. When the end user of the stolen Ipod registered, the info was sent to NBC instead of Apple. Hanson and crew then paid them a visit and filmed the folks who had the stolen property.
Pretty clever sting.
BacaDog on September 28, 2007 at 4:20 PM
IPOD + Charter Arms…issue solved!!!
sabbott on September 28, 2007 at 4:23 PM
My iPod was actually stolen from my car by a valet. I didn’t realize until we were halfway home.
Needless to say I never got it back. :(
12thman on September 28, 2007 at 4:29 PM
Nanny staters begin screaming for a ban on iphones in order to eliminate violent crime in 3…2…1…
TexasDan on September 28, 2007 at 4:30 PM
er..ipods. I’m not good with Apple products.
TexasDan on September 28, 2007 at 4:31 PM
This may help.
kiakjones on September 28, 2007 at 4:43 PM
Looks Like I’m going back to listening to my ol’ Sony Walkman.
Old Mixtapes are the New iPod!
Karma Chameleon!
I’m going to break out my 8-Trak and install it in my Hummer.
War! Huh! What is it good for!
NeoConSnakePlissken on September 28, 2007 at 4:45 PM
I’ve about worn this gag out, but:
To protect your iPod, you need a guyPod.
see-dubya on September 28, 2007 at 5:02 PM
Ah, sabbott’s at 4:23 is on the same wavelength.
see-dubya on September 28, 2007 at 5:04 PM
I still don’t see the value of an iPod or iAnything for that matter.
My Walkman still works fine.
Kini on September 28, 2007 at 5:15 PM
It’s related.
Nonfactor on September 28, 2007 at 6:07 PM
Bryan, you have heard about Apples latest product?
The iBrick?
opusrex on September 28, 2007 at 6:22 PM
I call BS on this. Greyhounds may look like deterrents, but they are a bit too timid, in general, to be trained as guard dogs. They’re more likely to nip at a dog they are racing than to attack a person on command.
Though most people will indeed give a 70 lb. dog with a long snout and big canines a wide berth.
When I walk Annie and people ask if I “rescued” her, I say “no, I’m fattening her up for a Vietnamese restaurant”.
rokemronnie on September 28, 2007 at 6:33 PM
I work for the company that wrote the software for this special. We got to hear all the updates as it was filming. I was even on TV! You could see the back of my head for almost a full second. Anyway, the reason the ipods were so easy to steal is because they were on a deadline and needed them stolen quickly. They tried making it harder at first, but they just weren’t being stolen fast enough. I don’t remember the total number of ipods that were put out to be stolen, but I vaguely recall it being around 25. Several of us volunteered to be thieves, but they didn’t go for it. :)
frost on September 28, 2007 at 7:26 PM
Yes, generally you are correct–but Greyts are also fiercely loyal dogs and have been known throughout history to be very good guard dogs. Anywho, I also have Italian Greyhounds that can jump five feet in the air and severely damage a nostril. This is done with the “oh-no-its-John-Kerry” command.
robblefarian on September 28, 2007 at 9:10 PM
Like one comedian said about the ‘94 LA riots, “You notice they didn’t loot any bookstores.”
jihadwatcher on September 28, 2007 at 9:25 PM
Nice indeed.
Maxx on September 28, 2007 at 11:05 PM
Crime is going up because we aren’t aborting enough boys. Steven Levitt told me so.
Bill C on September 29, 2007 at 1:29 AM
For all of you out there who haven’t yet gotten an iPod, trust me. It is wonderful, especially the video iPod that I have. I sit at a computer for 8 hours at work. The one radio is tuned to either Oldies or Country. iPod saved me from going insane.
Also, of course I get to listen to/watch Vents. Mighty cool. I
Doug on September 29, 2007 at 1:46 AM
A good boom box made a much more effective defensive weapon.
Captain Scarlet on September 29, 2007 at 12:15 PM
why not equip then with a transponder?
sorry, I’m watching 24.
Black Adam on September 30, 2007 at 1:34 PM