NYPD says Apple crimes up 40 percent since last year
updated 01:08 pm EDT, Tue September 25, 2012
Growth 10 times rate of NYC overall
New York City crimes involving Apple products grew 40 percent year-over-year in the period between January 1st and September 23rd, according to new data from the NYPD. 11,447 Apple-based incidents were reported in the 2012 span, while only 3,280 were recorded for 2011. The growth of Apple-related crimes is 10 times that of the city's general amount, which rose only 4 percent.
The company's products accounted for 204 percent of a 1 percent rise in burglaries, 160 percent of a 4 percent increase in burglaries, and 69 percent of a 9 percent jump in grand larcenies. The report follows just days after the iPhone 5 launch, during which NYPD officers stood outside the Fifth Avenue Apple Store and other locations, encouraging people to register the serial numbers of their purchases.
Apple products can be a lucrative target for thieves, since they're expensive, in high demand, and often easy to take. The NYPD is urging people to follow some basic safety measures, such as not using products near subway doors, or pulling out an iPhone to tell a stranger the time.
