Some people buy Apple products as they think it helps improve their appearance when they’re seen sporting a brand new iPhone 5. The stylish products aren’t doing any favors to the city of New York and the New York Police Department’s appearance, however, since the city has seen the its crime rate increase for the first time in 20 years thanks to the growing prominence of Apple devices.
Had Apple thefts not increased in 2012, “we would be experiencing a slight decline in crime citywide,” NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told the Wall Street Journal. Grand larceny was up 9 percent this year in NYC, a jump that can largely be attributed to the theft of expensive portable devices such as iPhones. The NYPD reported that between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, a total of 11,447 Apple products were stolen in the city, marking a 40 percent increase over the number of Apple products stolen in 2011.
Apple products are a popular target for thieves due to their high re-sale value, high demand and the ease with which you can get them repaired. A quick trip to sites such as eBay and Craigslist reveals dozens and dozens of people looking to buy or sell Apple phones, tablets and computers.
When the iPhone 5 went on sale September 21, NYPD officers were stationed at 21 stores to try to get customers to sign up for tracking software such as Find My iPhone in an attempt to address the growing issue.
