If you’re an iPod owner, no doubt you’ve at least once donned your white earphones with a certain pride. White means you’re part of the club, you get it, you’re cool. And it also means you’re a prime target for thieves. It seems that the supposed iPod robberies in New York have jumped the Atlantic (or returned?):
iPod owners are increasingly being targeted by muggers who can spot the digital music players by their distinctive white leads, the country’s most senior police chief has said. The desirability of the players is partly to blame for a steep increase in robberies on the streets of London, according to Sir Ian Blair, the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police.
When stories like this come out, it’s only right to question them. Are thieves really robbing people for their iPods? The numbers in London seem to suggest that’s the case, as “street thefts of iPods have risen from 10 in November 2004 to 52 so far this month. All crime in which an iPod was stolen has more than doubled to around 400 so far this month.”
Just one more reason to buy a music player that isn’t overpriced, and won’t lock you into one store! Or if you like paying a premium, being restricted to purchasing music from one place only, and walking around with a big “ATTACK ME” sign on your person, go ahead and buy that iPod.
[Disclaimer: I own a first generation iPod, but my Creative Zen Touch has since replaced it!]
Read: The Independent
MasterMaq's Blog 
Or do what my kids did. Buy a really nice pair of black headphones to use with the iPod.
Exactly. The problem isn’t the iPod itself. The problem is the person spending a lot for the iPod, and then being cheap with the earphones.
I use my ghetto-ass busted headphones. They’re much more comfortable than sticking objects directly inside my ear.
it’s probably not the fact that they’re stealing iPods, but probably as an indicator. People who have iPods probably have money, and are thus probably good for a couple hundred worth of jewelry and other knick knacks that can be pawned.
Well, if I was a robber, I’d steal from anybody wearing earphones since they can’t hear when you come up behind them.
Or you could just NOT be a corporate whore and not buy one?
Anyone else notice that the "Remember Me?" checkbox at the bottom doesn’t serve it’s purpose? ie. I check it and it doesn’t remember me?
It just seems as though the white earphones are such a huge part of what an iPod is! I am surprised Jobs hasnt fused them to the damn device.
Good point Andrea…maybe it’s just that the white sticks out more! Like that study they did with moths in industrial London…anyone remember that? Anyway…
I thought the moth test was made up. More conceptual than fact. :p
haha sucks to be the popular guy, everyone picks on you, although I don’t feel that much sympathy for Apple, those fuckers and their crappy battery life đŸ˜¦
And the remember me button works for me Megan.
There were actual experiments done, but perhaps the story has changed as it has been passed along. Interesting read on the "Peppered Moths" experiment:
http://www.millerandlevine.com/km/evol/Moths/moths.html