Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Subway Crime Down 'cept for iPod & Cellphone Thefts
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 28, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Apr 28, 2005
Modified Mar 7, 2008
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
The NYPD had a good news-bad news perspective on the latest subway crime figures: Felonies are pretty much down, but assault and robberies, namely iPod- and cellphone-related ones, are up. iPod robberies were 82 during the January 1 - April 14 period in 2004, and in 2005, there have been 215 in the same period; cellphone robberies are up 29%. In fact, the Transit Authority will be issuing safety announcements about taking care of one's wellbeing by watching one's personal possession habits, with lines like "Earphones are a giveaway. Protect your device." Gothamist wonders if there will be a "Don't play loud, annoying games on your cellphone - someone might take it from you and smash it." Transit Chief Michael Scagnelli notes that it's a phenomenon and told reporters, "I would never tell someone to listen to music or not listen. I'm asking riders to be aware of their surroundings so they won't get pickpocketed." Newsday called Apple for a comment, but they never got back.
The NY Times's Sewell Chan follows up the Campbell Robertson story about subway riders not being that fazed by subway by the robberies (the one that got a Fader employee fired) noting that none of the iPod-toting commuters would stop using them on the subway and that during the early 90s, gold chain snatchings were the big subway crime of the day. There's also this great quote from MIT's Henry Jenkins about why iPods and other gadgets, like cellphones, are targetted:
The participation gap creates techno-envy, where the kids who are locked out of participation in the culture covet those tools and devices that are considered essential to being a young person.
Gothamist also appreciated the almost-thankless quote from former NYPD Commissioner William Bratton, who said he rode a filthy subway and being in a dirty subway might where it seems like no one is in charge makes crime seem more possible. Thanks, Brats. The Times also has a Technology article about "combating" the thefts, suggesting insurance and paying more attention.
The best suggestions we've heard is discretion, getting different earphones, and not totally zoning out. Any more? And Gothamist on iPod robberies.
Tagged
And Gothamist
announcements
apple
crime
culture
gadgets
games
good news
gothamist
ipod
kids
mit
Music
News: NYC
ny times
nypd
robbery
safety
Sewell Chan
subway
technology
The NY
the ny times
The NYPD
the times
transit
transit authority
transportation
william bratton
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
Mid-October through mid-December is deer mating season, which can be a danger to drivers as the sex-seeking creatures cross roadways throughout the Garden State.
By
Rosemary Misdary
Published Oct 16, 2026 at 4:22 p.m. ET
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
News
Man messaged 'I got straight poison' before giving NYC college students fentanyl, feds say
A transcript from an April court hearing sheds new light on what transpired at Fashion Institute of Technology.
By
Samantha Max
Inside the plan to fix the nearly collapsed Pfizer Building, 1/64th of an inch at a time
By
David Brand
School bus carrying autistic students got lost in Brooklyn for 4 hours last year
By
Jessica Gould
NYC’s bridges can last 'forever,' if we take care of them
By
Clayton Guse
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .