iPod theft on the increase

iPod thefts have contributed to a significant rise in street crime, according to the police.
In some parts of the country the number of muggings was up by 40 per cent in 2004 and by an average of five per cent across England and Wales.

In addition to iPods and other MP3 players, the police also identified the latest Internet-enabled phone models as a favourite target for thieves.

In Merseyside, where street robberies rose by 36 per cent,many of the victims were students and teenagers, according to Chief Superintendent Paul Forrester.
'Some children carry phones and iPods over £600 and they are making themselves walking targets,' he told the Sunday Times.

Moreover, figures from the Metropolitan police indicate that the problem is only getting worse with the number of iPod thefts and snatches increasing fivefold since November 2004. Insurers have also reported a sharp rise in the number of iPod theft claims they have paid out on.
Earlier this year, the Metropolitan police commissioner Sir Ian Blair said that the iPod's white headphones act like a beacon to thieves. Owners were urged to keep the player out of sight and use the remote control where possible. Since then Apple has stopped including the remote control as standard though it is available for an extra £25.

Credits to: Simon Aughton