iPhones Fuel Rise in Subway Theft

[Viva_La_Revolution]

Source: wsj

More New Yorkers are using smartphones and tablets on the subway — and more thieves are ripping them out of riders’ hands, according to police statistics.

There have been 311 grand larcenies on the subway since the beginning of 2011, an increase of 17.8% compared to the same period in 2010. That jump is largely driven by rising theft of smartphones, especially Apple Inc.’s iPhone 4, said Raymond Diaz, chief of the New York City Police Department’s transit bureau.

“We’ve been seeing an incredible trend of young people snatching those cellphones,” Diaz told Metropolitan Transportation Authority board members during a meeting Thursday.

snip

When police first started noticing the spike, they thought thieves were stealing the devices for themselves. But they’ve learned from interrogating suspects that many are being sold, Diaz said. Police are in the process of buying phones to use for sting operations, he said.

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2011/04/21/iphones-fuel-spike-in-theft-on-subway/?mod=e2tw

[Luminous Animal]

1. iPhones! What can't they do!

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. ..

:spray:

[SheilaT]

3. Maybe the threat of their devices being stolen

will finally stop people from engaging in personal conversations in public.

[LisaM]

5. I'm not following you

Do you mean people talking on their iPhones in public?

[SheilaT]

10. Yeah. I am heartily sick of

people talking on their cell phones -- no matter which device they are using -- as if they are all alone, not out in public. Personally, I like to join in on those conversations just to make the point that they are out in public.

I also work with the public, and I'm frequently annoyed that someone thinks their stupid cell phone conversation is more important than their dealings with me. Just put the damn phone down for three minutes while I do what you came to me for.

[wellst0nev0ter]

11. While I Agree ThatCellphone Users Shouldn't Ignore You

I just don't get why public cellphone conversations turn people off. I mean, people talk to each other in public all the time, and nobody has a problem with it, so why is talking on the cellphone in public such a taboo?

[Luminous Animal]

12. Because people on cell phones are ordinarily talking outward (and often loudly) and their

voice projects outward to anyone within earshot. People talking to each other face to face are generally turned toward each other and keep the conversation intimate between themselves.

There are some people in restaurants and public transportation who do talk loudly to each other in public and it annoying, as well. But it does not happen near as often as those who are on cell phones. This loud talking that is directed at a wider audience is why many restaurants ban cell phone use.

[LisaM]

13. Got it!

I don't like it either.

[ElsewheresDaughter]

4. well now we know that they have tracking device data codes installed on them...the thiefs should be

easy to find sooner or later

[KittyWampus]

7. lol

[Fuddnik]

6. Your iPhone is secretly tracking you all the time

By Rosa Golijan

Your iPhone has a hidden feature: It tracks and records your location constantly whether you want it to or not. What? You wish it wouldn't do that without your knowledge or consent? Too bad, because there's not much you can do about the tracking feature right now.
(snip)

http://digitallife.today.com/_news/2011/04/20/6501660-your-iphone-is-secretly-tracking-you-all-the-time

Worth a trip to the link.

[Uncle Joe]

8. How about the piss poor economy is fueling a rise in Subway Theft?

If more people own a valuable or desirable device naturally the number of thefts re: that particular device would increase but that doesn't make it a cause.

Thanks for the thread, Viva_La_Revolution.

[DCKit]

9. +1

This economy is making people nuts, and those that had little or nothing three or four years ago, have even less now.