Want to Keep Your iPod? Don’t Leave It in the Car
11:12 pm, July 29th, 2009, Nicole Martinelli
Easy pickings: an iPod on the dash. Used with a CC-license, thanks to Willrad on Flickr.
Yeah, it’s common sense to take your valuables with you when you park. Online police blotters make it seem, however, that a parked car is a virtual shopping mall for thieves.
A few recent examples:
– An iPod was reported stolen from a vehicle broken into in the 3100 block of Ebano Drive. (Walnut Creek, Ca.)
– Complainant reported that his car was broken into and an iPod and a stereo faceplate were stolen early Wednesday morning. The in-dash stereo was damaged in an attempt to steal it as well. (Lufkin, Texas.)
– Apple iPod stolen from unlocked vehicle, Snowden Ave., July 21. A vehicle window was smashed and Apple iPod stolen, first block of Karen Way, July 19. (Both in Atherton, Ca.)
– A vehicle parked at 31 River St. was burglarized on July 19 at 11:30 p.m. A window was smashed and an 8-gig iPod touch, a purse and an orange-and-black Tony Hawk BMX were taken. (Lewiston, Maine).
In at least one area, Arlington County, Virginia, police report thefts are up 20 percent this year — attributing the increase to gadgets nicked from cars.
“Most are larcenies from vehicles to include valuables left in cars, including GPS’s, MP3 players, purses, wallets,” said Kraig Troxell, spokesman for the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office.
“People walk by and see an iPod and a GPS on a car seat and just smash and grab,” Jody Donaldson, spokesman for Alexandria police told the Washington Post. “You’d be surprised how many people leave their car unlocked with that stuff out.”
Police advise if you leave your iPod in the car — at least put it out of sight — but warn that these thefts are bound to increase as more people use them.
“A lot of people have these items that used to not have them — BlackBerrys, iPods, iPhones, tiny cameras,” Donaldson said. “Think about how many people have this technology who didn’t a year ago.”
Posted by Nicole Martinelli in iPod, iPod Touch | Comment on this article
Yeah, my car was broken into last week. Only thing missing: an old iPod that’s of no use to the thief because the headphone jack is not working… Cost of replacing the window: € 215, plus a lot of hassle (police report, garage, no insurance).
Bert Vanderveen, on July 30th, 2009 at 4:52 am
When my laptop was stolen from my car, by breaking out the rear window, I was asked by my homeowners insurance company if my iPod was in my briefcase; which it was not. After I asked why they told me that iPods (and presumably other MP3 players) and GPS units are specifically NOT covered for larceny from a vehicle. Everything else was covered, digital camera, computer, accessories like my expensive mouse, even the briefcase, were all covered.
-Vince, on July 30th, 2009 at 7:48 am
Vince — did they say why they’re not covered? Hard to understand why a camera and other accessories would be insured against car theft but not iPods or GPSs…
Nicole Martinelli, on July 30th, 2009 at 8:29 am
Hey thats a great song by the arcade fire……YAY
skittle Nib, on July 30th, 2009 at 11:51 am