112th Precinct Community Council

Someone May Target that Cool Cell Phone or iPod

Oct 07, 2006

Someone May Target that Cool Cell Phone or iPod
By
Heidi Harrison Chain
Recently, there have been numerous incidents of teenagers taking cell phone or iPods from other students. You do not want your child to be a victim. Captain Napolitano discussed this crime pattern at a recent meeting. I also have heard that this pattern is a continual problem in other precincts in the City. Young children are carrying expensive electronic equipment and all too often these children are becoming the victim of a crime. There are news articles that indicate that New York City Students have been victimized by iPod muggings both in school, on their way to school and in the subways.
For parents, this raises an important question. Should students go to school with hundreds of dollars worth of electronic equipment? If you want your children to have cell phones or your teenagers to have their iPods with them ?–then there are steps that they can take to be smarter and safer. These electronic devices should not be displayed.
In addition, in an effort to cut down on the thefts of cell phones, the 112th precinct crime prevention officer is able to etch a number on the cell phone for identification purposes. The precinct will also keep a record of the phone and the id number- in case that phone is then stolen.
The victims of cell phone and iPod theft are not only students. There have been reports in the media that the iPod and cell phone theft is a common crime in the subways.
I checked on the internet and there are literally pages of articles discussing IPOD theft and things people can do to try and protect themselves. Some of the suggestions include:
Do Not wear iPods or cell phones clipped to your belts for the entire world to see.
Replace the popular white iPod headphones with a pair of unidentifiable ones.
Avoid carrying your iPod to and from school.
Do not leave it unattended in public places.
Do not leave it on or in your desk at work.
Do not leave it in your school locker.
If you leave it in your car, lock it in the trunk.
Wear your iPod inside your clothing so that it cannot be easily snatched by a thief.
Be wise about where you choose to use it.