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NYPD To Apple Customers: Watch Your iProducts Because iCrime Is Up 40%
By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 25, 2012
Modified Sep 25, 2012
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By
Jen Chung
Published Sep 25, 2012
Modified Sep 25, 2012
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Days after sending Community Affairs officers to Apple stores for the iPhone 5 launch, the NYPD is emphasizing how iPhones, iPads and various Apple iProducts are incredibly tempting to thieves. The police department revealed that thefts involving Apple products have increased 40% over the same period last year—resulting in a 4% increase in overall crime. And if there's one thing Police Commissioner Kelly and Mayor Bloomberg hate, it's an uptick in crime stats!
Police wants iProduct owners, as well as owners of other fancy gadgets (yes, even you, Droid owners), to be more aware of their situations and to better guard their property. Kelly said, "Individuals alert to their surroundings are less likely to become victims of thefts of iPhoines and other handheld devices." And there are videos like this one, warning people of simple things like perhaps you shouldn't obliviously use your iPad right next to the subway door or consult your iPhone at night when strangers ask you for the time:
Here are the NYPD's stats for crime:
Between January 1 and September 23, there were 11,447 incidents in which Apple products were stolen; an increase of 3,280 over the same period last year, or an increase of 40%.
The total number of index crimes year-to-date is 79,335, an increase of 3,015 over the same period last year, or an increase of 4%.
The increase in incidents involving the theft of Apple products exceeded the increase in overall crime incidents of crime by 265.
When broken down by crime category, the theft of Apple products so far this year represented:
204% of the 1% in overall increase in burglaries, an increase of 250 burglary incidents overall v an increase of 511 incidents in which Apple products were burgled;
160% of the 4% increase in robberies overall, an increase of 606 robbery incidents overall v an increase of 968 incidents in which Apple products were robbed;
69% of the 9% increase in grand larcenies overall, an increase of 2,600 grand larcenies overall, of which 1,803 involved Apple products.
As if to mirror the market place, thefts of Apple products increased this year as the theft of electronics by other manufacturers.
While the police are using "Find my iPhone" in an attempt to track down iThieves or fencing operations, sometimes thieves will just sneak through the subway's baby back ribs of death:
5th pct robbery CRS transit from Gothamist on Vimeo.
Tagged
apple
crime stats
electronics
gadgets
icrime
ipad
iphone
ithieves
nypd
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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