For all the rewards that come with owning an iOS device, there are some risks. If you live in New York City (or pretty much any major metropolitan area) and own and iPhone or iPad, chances are thieves are looking to make a quick buck at your expense.
According to data published by the WSJ, the number of grand larcenies — property thefts — have remained fairly consistent while nearly every other type of crime in NYC has decreased. It’s reasonable to associate the growing presence of iOS devices in public spaces as a driving factor, too. Data shows that Apple devices accounted for 18 percent of grand larcenies in the city during 2013. Such devices barely registered only 10 years ago.
Thieves have been targeting iPhone and iPad users on subways, snatching devices from the hands of distracted users and running. Similar incidents occur on the streets of cities across America.
Apple is not naive to the matter, either. After introducing Find My iPhone as a way to track, lock, and erase a lost or stolen device, iOS 7 enabled a feature known as Activation Lock. With Activation Lock, a formatted phone can only be reactivated using the Apple ID and password of the initial owner.
But those services can only help after the fact, and even then it may be too late. The best way to prevent such crimes before they happen? Be alert. Don’t bury your most in that iPad on a crowded subway or wander down the street talking obliviously on an iPhone.
[via WSJ]
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