July 29-August 4, 2004

naked city

Invasion of the 'Pod Snatchers

When asked if iPod owners are being targeted by muggers, a Philadelphia police sergeant asked, "What's an iPod?"

by Doron Taussig

Once upon a time, muggers had to demand their victim's personal stereo equipment before learning whether the mark had a flashy Discman or a drugstore Walkman without a rewind button. But thanks to new technology, today's mugger may be able to put that tradition behind him.

According to several media outlets, not to mention growing Internet and street buzz, muggers have been picking their targets from a block away by targeting iPod owners, easily identifiable by their distinctive white "earbuds." In March, four British papers — the Times, the Daily Telegraph, the Sun and the Evening Standard — reported that British police considered the Apple iPod's unique headphones a "magnet" for thieves. Each article told the story of 22-year-old Roland Baskerville, who was walking near his Birmingham, England, home when a man approached and asked if he was listening to an iPod.

"As soon as I told him yes," Baskerville was quoted as saying, "he pulled a knife out and started waving it at me saying, 'well hand it over then.'" The Telegraph then quoted a police spokesperson saying, "Using different colour headphones might be useful to pretend" you were listening to "something cheaper, such as a portable stereo."

It's easy to see why a mugger would prefer an iPod. An old-school Sony Walkman can now be had for just $17.95. A brand-new portable CD player, fully loaded, will only set you back $59.99. New iPods, on the other hand, are worth $299 or $399, depending on memory capacity.

Across the Atlantic — and here's where the buzz really took off — the Baskerville story was picked up by Newsday and Fox News, which morbidly warned, "Apple Computer's cute little iPods are popular — maybe too popular."

Within days, the Internet was flooded with thoughts on the mugging trend. Some people claimed that they, too, had been mugged for their iPods; others insisted the whole thing was a sham. There was even speculation that the story was the result of a conspiracy by Dell, which is releasing its own MP3 player, the DJ, next month.

One of the major points of debate was whether the white earbuds were worth the risk. The iPod has a carefully cultivated image and the buds are an important part of the gadget's aesthetic. At iPodlounge.com, a chat-room for iPod enthusiasts, some people swore they would never abandon the headphones; others said they don't actually deliver high-quality sound, so they'd happily give 'em up. Apple officials didn't return calls for comment, but the Sun quoted a representative asserting, "There are guys who'd rather be robbed than change the colour of the headphones. We will not be changing the colour. Some users really like the coolness of being seen wearing an iPod."

Locally, iPod owners don't seem to be facing any dangerous situations.

According to a police sergeant who works on burglaries and robberies, there are upswings in the illegal taking of expensive, fashionable items, such as popular sneakers, "all the time." Still, he says, there doesn't appear to be any indication that iPod muggings are a pattern rather than a potential threat. When asked if he had heard about any iPod muggings, the sergeant asked, "What's an iPod?"

Cpl. Jim Pauley, a police spokesman, says nothing has come up at weekly department meetings where crimes are reviewed. A representative from the Patrol Bureau had at least heard of iPods, but not of anyone being mugged for one. A representative from the New York Police Department said that things were no different in his city.

Over at the Apple store in the King of Prussia mall, there were long lines at the iPod display booths. Salespeople did not want to comment, but throughout the course of a busy afternoon hour, not one customer expressed concern about the headphones. All of which makes it unlikely that enough muggers have caught on to the iPod's distinctive look to call muggings a trend. Still, the iPod's current popularity makes this scenario, proposed at iPodlounge by "Xarthan," a real concern:

Mugger: "Give me ur iPod'

Victim: "I don't have an iPod'

Mugger: "You're wearing iPod headphones'

Victim: "I found them in the garbage'

Mugger: "Why the #### are you just wearing headphones?'

Victim: "I wanted [to] look cool.'