MSNBC on "People walking up on the street demanding GIVE ME YOUR iPOD"

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

MSNBC ran a news story about iPod theft...specifically an increase in dickheads simply walking up to owners on the street and demanding "GIVE ME YOUR iPOD."

They said that if people are walking down the street with the iPod in their hand, they're asking for trouble. They also said the distinctive headphones are a "dead giveaway," and recommended swapping them out for a pair that aren't standard issue.

They said that most of the people who steal them turn them over for at least 50% of the retail value.

iPod Shuffle: S.R.P. $99 - $129

iPod nano: S.R.P. $199 - $249

iPod: S.R.P. $299 - $399

WONDERFUL times we live in.



:grr:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

1. How about saying, "No, I won't. Now fuck off."

Assuming they're not armed or something.

[henslee]

10. If someone tried to podjack me, I would cap him.

[Deja Q]

2. There used to be a lot of car thefts when CD players for autos came out.

In time, as more of this plastic crap gets sold, things will simmer down.

[ucmike]

3. 2 radio interns were robbed

i was listening to a nyc radio station the other day (can't remember which-i was flipping around). 2 of the interns who worked on this morning show had been robbed just like described in hte article. one of them was relieved of his ipod in times square in broad daylight.

[supernova]

4. Now it's IPods. It used to be

Members Only jackets and Nike tennis shoes.

Greedy, greedy, greedy.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

13. I bet the people who stole the Members Only Jackets are now wondering...

What the hell was I thinking?
Duckie

[kanrok]

19. If I were a cop, I'd be looking for

guys with Nike shoes, Members Only jackets and I-Pods. Maybe I can get a government grant.

[WCGreen]

5. If only the Ten Commandments were on a wall somewhere

for these thieves, IPod's would be safe...

[KitchenWitch]

6. That and if only prayer was allowed in school.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

14. lol

:rofl:

[Atlas Mugged]

17. Okay, that's funny

And it's a suitable replacement for the worn out "Won't somebody please think of the children!".

[Flying Dream Blues]

32. Now, that's funny. Is that you, God? nt

[Ladyhawk]

36. Bwahahahahahaha!

:spray:

Actually, it was a good thing I wasn't drinking anything. :D :D :D

[peekaloo]

7. Hell, their new TV advertising campaign features a voice saying

"give me that" while trying to take one away from the owner.

Effective marketing! :evilgrin:

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

8. All the thieves want it! Buy now! LOL

[Atlas Mugged]

9. There has always been some "hot" item that was making the news for theft

Back in the 80's the same thing was happening with those leather 8 ball jackets. And it's been happening with overpriced athletic shoes for decades now. But I distinctly remeber the theft of those 8 ball jackets...and wondering why someone would buy one to begin with, much less risk prison for stealing one.



This one is on eBay for $25, so far. Goofy ass looking thing. While looking for this picture I ran across a Seinfeld forum where someone was lusting after one because the David Puddy character wore it.

http://www.stanthecaddy.com/8-ball-jacket-discuss.html

[ghostsofgiants]

11. You got a question, you ask the 8-ball!

[no name no slogan]

12. All signs point to...

ugly as f*ck.

[Atlas Mugged]

15. That would be....

...fugly, in the language from The Great Beyond.

[Flying Dream Blues]

33. No sh*t, that's the ugliest jacket ever!

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. Until we as a society change so that we aren't producing so many criminal

fuckstick trash asswipes, this shit is gonna continue.

End intentional poverty now!

I think universal healthcare, a better welfare system, expanding WIC and foodstamps, corporate regulation, better worker's rights..take away the need for hopelessness, take away the strains and pains of constantly wondering whether a person will be alive tomorrow or not, and I bet crime goes down drastically. Just like it did it during Clinton's terms.

Criminal trash is made, not born. And it's made by all of us.

[Atlas Mugged]

18. I love your intentions

But the biggest theives of them all are born with silver spoons in their mouths.

[pitohui]

21. yes people of ALL classes steal, the rich steal most

clearly health care, education, etc. does NOT stop a person from stealing

only a soul & a conscience can do that

why would having health care stop a sociopath from stealing iPods anyway, seems rather a non-sequitir

i hate these claims that make it sound like you're responding to blackmail if you provide certain basic decencies to our fellow humans, bernie ebbers stole six figures from my best friend, no iPod thief can hope to compete w. the educated thief

[fujiyama]

20. I've heard the headphones it comes with

aren't even very good.

If I had an iPod, I'd definetely keep the thing hidden (like in a pocket) with a different pair of headphones...

Or better yet, why do people have to listen to music at all times? If you are working out in a gym, I understand that, but if you are jogging through a city, I would imagine that listening to music through headphones could distract you from traffic...

There are a lot of ass hole criminals out there. People need to use some common sense. People don't wear expensive jewelry at all times. They shouldn't wear expensive electronics at all times either. Same goes with leaving that shit in your car - keep it hidden or take it with you.

[democracyindanger]

22. They're the same headphones

that have been around for years. Sony came out with them first. Apple's are just white versions.

I hate 'em. They're absolutely useless for people with small ears. Sony makes some earbuds that fit into your ear holes with soft rubber. Much better.

[NYC Liberal]

23. I have the black version of the Sony headphones you're talking

about. Mostly because they're much better quality but also because the black isn't as obvious.

[Bush_Eats_Beef]

39. There are always stories in the Silicon Valley Police Blotter...

...especially in the city of Campbell, for some reason...about thieves smashing the windows of cars parked on the streets and stealing laptop computers, digital cameras...

:shrug:

[-..__...]

24. One suggestion.

Incorporate a 'lock-out' device of some sort so that only the owner can turn the Ipod on (say a small alpha-numeric keypad where the owner can set an activation code).

Some wouldn't bother with it as being to much of a hassle (until it is stolen, that is).

Car stereos have had a similar device for some time now: if the deck is removed (or power is interrupted), a special code from the dealer is need to reactivate it.

Short of that... a set-up operation using booby trapped Ipods with a small explosive charge set in the earpiece or body of the device might serve as a nice deterrent or warning. :evilgrin:

[Deja Q]

29. biometrics that survive a hard reset, just like the ipaq 2755 PDA...

Or make ipods their proper value (two dollars) and have it done.

[northzax]

30. simpler answer

install a trojan horse in the iPod software that tracks registered iPods. Say something linked to the serial number. Since an iPod is only useful (unless you really like my music) plugged into a computer, which is only useful connected to the internet with iTunes, make the ipod harddrive linked to the registered copies of iTunes. If you use a stoled iPod, it reports it to apple.

yes, it could be broken, of course it could, but it would reduce the attractiveness of them to petty thieves. Apple already knows, if they want to, what I am listening to, since my iPod and my iTunes are registered with them. Why not a theft protection device?

and yes, I've had one stolen.

[cwydro]

25. ok, how about this

and I am not lying...what the fuck is an IPOD? Is that a music device or is it something like a blackberry? Go ahead and laugh. I had to be dragged kicking and screaming into the computer world. I sit here on my trusty laptop...but I am so computer illiterate...so chastise me...or educate me...your choice...:dunce:

[fujiyama]

26. Dont worry

It's an mp3 player made by apple. They store several thousand songs.

www.ipod.com

[cwydro]

27. ok, that's what I thought

thanks for not scorning me...I still have a radio walkman for work and running...:yoiks:

[Lady Freedom]

28. FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS!!!!

There are some things worth fighting for!!! MY gadgets are one of them!!

[GOPisEvil]

31. That's just dumb. It's just a thing.

All the music is stored on my computer anyway. File an insurance claim, get a new one, start over.

[Lady Freedom]

40. I have a VERY unhealthy attachment to my gadgets.

:silly:

[TheMightyFavog]

34. If anyone would try that on me, I'd whip out my little friend....

[Ladyhawk]

35. Why are they so damn expensive, still???

Really.

I have an old 6 GB Nomad Jukebox I use for tunes in the car. When it fails, I would want to replace it with a more portable iPod, but I doubt I could afford to. Now I learn I could be Podjacked.

Unbelievable.

[fujiyama]

37. I got the Archos Jukebox

at the same time (with the same amount of space) before the iPod came out.

It's certainly bulkier thhan the ipod and thhe battery life isn't as good but I got thhe thing in late '01 for less than 170 so it was a great deal.

Plus I can upgrade the harddrive in it to sometthing like an 80+ gig for not too much. All I need is a normal laptop HD.

I will admit the iPods look nice and I like the size.

[LynneSin]

38. You know - Ipods are overpriced

I was shopping for possibly a new MP3 player and I found several units that I liked very much that weren't as expensive as the Ipods but sounded just as good. I really don't need to have a unit that can hold 2 brazillian songs. Just a 1gb unit that is small and can be strapped to my arm when I go to the gym.