Do iPods Spur Crime?

It might seem unlikely, but a think tank believes the demand for iPods might be one of the reasons – if not the main reason – behind an upturn in crime.

Here’s a theory for you – the rise in crime in due to the desirability of the iPod. People want then so much that they’ll steal them as oftenas possible. Is that plausible? A think tank believes it is.  According to AP, the Urban Institute think tank firstmooted an “iCrime wave” last year, then explored it more deeply last week. How did they reach the conclusion that the iPod might be responsible for the surge in crime? They saw thatrobberies rose significantly in 2005 and 2006 after years of falling. They went from 137 per 100,000 people in 2004 to 141 per 100,000 in 2005 and 149 in 2006, according to FBI data. Secondly, total sales of iPods boomed, going from five million in 2004 to a staggering 90 million two years later. But perhaps the biggest giveaway were thereports from several cities that showed iPods being stolen from using carrying them at an alarming rate. It had become the must-have accessory, and youthful criminals made sure they must have it forfree.