As Justin Bills walked across his condo's parking garage on a Sunday morning last fall, he noticed shattered glass surrounding his car. Through the empty window frame, he noted the iPod he left in a car charger the night before was missing.
That same morning, two other tenants in the Provo, Utah, complex discovered their car windows shattered and their iPods missing as well.
Bills, a senior majoring in music education at Brigham Young University (BYU), said car insurance covered the cost of his broken window, but the company would not replace his iPod.
Theft is a recurring problem, but there are preventative measures students can take to reduce their risk of having personal possessions stolen -- particularly iPods and laptops, which are common prey for thieves. "iPod is not only the best selling MP3 player, but also the most stolen," according to inspice.com and Macfixit.com.
To prevent iPod theft, students can take away opportunities to steal it. "Turns out the standard white ear buds -- which identify an iPod user immediately -- are mugger magnets," according to a "Fox News" report in April 2004. Students can easily buy black earphones to use with their iPod, making it look like less desirable electronic equipment. People can store iPods out of view -- in their pockets, for example -- to prevent themselves from being a target.
Laptops are another item commonly stolen from students, Harroun said.
"FBI statistics indicate that one in eight laptop computers will be stolen," according to an article in the USA Today.
News source: Tech News World
That same morning, two other tenants in the Provo, Utah, complex discovered their car windows shattered and their iPods missing as well.
Bills, a senior majoring in music education at Brigham Young University (BYU), said car insurance covered the cost of his broken window, but the company would not replace his iPod.
Theft is a recurring problem, but there are preventative measures students can take to reduce their risk of having personal possessions stolen -- particularly iPods and laptops, which are common prey for thieves. "iPod is not only the best selling MP3 player, but also the most stolen," according to inspice.com and Macfixit.com.
To prevent iPod theft, students can take away opportunities to steal it. "Turns out the standard white ear buds -- which identify an iPod user immediately -- are mugger magnets," according to a "Fox News" report in April 2004. Students can easily buy black earphones to use with their iPod, making it look like less desirable electronic equipment. People can store iPods out of view -- in their pockets, for example -- to prevent themselves from being a target.
Laptops are another item commonly stolen from students, Harroun said.
"FBI statistics indicate that one in eight laptop computers will be stolen," according to an article in the USA Today.
News source: Tech News WorldSome protection is afforded by software that tracks stolen laptops. After a laptop equipped with such a system is stolen, the next time it hooks up to the Internet it will "phone home." This software usually runs about US$50 a year. One company that provides it is LoJack For Laptops.
The cost of the laptop may be considerably less than the value of the information it contains. Software to recover the actual machine may be more useful than some other coverage that only recovers its price.
Services such as SmartProtec from inspice allow laptop owners to register their serial number through a secure database online. Anyone purchasing used electronic equipment can go online and contact the owner through the serial number to see if the item has been stolen or if it is the real owner selling the item.
Marking a laptop with the owner's name obviously makes it easier to identify and reclaim stolen property. Identification can be done either discreetly or indiscreetly.
If I have to leave something like my iPod in my truck I always make sure to conceal it either in the glove compartment or the arm rest storage comparment. Most theives won't break into a vehicle unless they see something they want since it's risky to break in if there is a chance of nothing being in there.
But I realize most people don't get this message since I can walk across my campus parking lot and see at least a dozen vehicles with expensive gadgets just sitting on the passenger seat.
Exactly, They deserved for being dumbasses
Last edited by Lasker on 20 Aug 2006 - 23:57
If you want insurance to cover stuff in your vehicle like CDs or anything else not attached to the car, you have to have homeowners or renters insurance. Still, its not the Ipod is real big, why charge it in the car? Charge it inside.
Anyway I guess thats another excuse for iPod owners to cough up a bit and get some decent headphones for their player. It may be doing them a favour in that regard.
I also use a regular messenger bag/backpack to carry those stuff when I'm out of the car, so I look like a college student.
Plus here, they might take the car along with the goodies inside, so you gotta watch out for that also.
However, we now live in a world where respect for other people and their possessions has become rare, and the desire for immediate possession has over-ridden the desire to earn one's luxuries by hard graft.
And for that undeniably sad reason it is bloody stupid to leave one's iPod on display in one's parked car.
stupid-pratvictim rubbish doesn't help as what is to stop the next idiot doing the same thing and bleating "waah, what about the victim?" when the insurance doesn't pay out? If someone is so blinkered to reality that they don't realise there are naughty people about who will take the stuff that has a virtual flashing neon sign saying "Steal me!" pointing at it then I have no sympathy whatsoever. Basic common sense seems to be on the decline.I'm not entirely convinced that the world was ever really like that. ..
It's not news to say that some people are morons is it?
Slack slack and slack again for good measure - report some NEWS!
Don't be a nobhead and leave ipods and laptop on full view for anyone to see!!!! Duh! That is basic common sense that even Mr thicky would know!
geez. I guess no one got the hint in 2 years time....
agreed
waste of time.
The current wave of ipod stolen is caused by :
a ) the overprice of this stuff.
b ) They are easy to carry and to hidden (for theft).
c ) Even when they are easy to hidden, many users trend to overshow this gadget.
d ) Used and/or focused mainly by women and weenie.
e ) White color is popular amongs thieves, for example the Air Force One shoes
Look at the iPod in that car!
Lets bash the winshield, but first, lets say how big of a dumbass would leave it right there, I know, and I also know I'm talking to nobody right now, I know!
1, 2, 3, BASH!
Go for the iPod quick quick!
I got it Johnny!
Roger That!
lol, that was easy, and oh look, this iPod comes with all my favorite music, hey the charger, wheres the freaking charger, I'll call Apple up! hehehe! just kidding!
*gets as high as you*
*claps hands*
People are too accepting of crime these days, and end up blaming the victims for doing things which they should be entitled to do - without fear of consequence.
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