"Apple Picking" A New Epidemic of Street Crime

Sunday, November 18, 2012

"Apple Picking" A New Epidemic of Street Crime

(click for full story)

Asked about the trend of thieves assaulting people to steal I-pads and I-Phones in broad daylight (also known as "Apple picking"), Police Captain Maddox of San Francisco said:

"It's a chronic, chronic problem."

Definition of CHRONIC 1a : marked by long duration or frequent recurrence

... and THIS is what we plan to give to our elementary school children to carry back and forth from school to home every day?

It's not only unsafe, it's downright irresponsible. We're setting our children up to be victims of more than just a few bullies if we do not start thinking decisions through more carefully before putting them into action. Just because we CAN do something, doesn't mean we SHOULD.

Read highlights from just one of hundreds or more stories just like it from around the web:

IPad robbery suspects held after crash

by John Cote, San Franciso Chronicle

A daylight rip-and-run theft in San Francisco's upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood set off a chain of mayhem and destruction that ended just over a mile away with a traffic collision that injured four people, including an 11-year old boy at a playground, authorities said Thursday.

The incident began about 5 p.m. Wednesday when a man grabbed an iPad from a woman's hands as she sat on a bench in front of the Peet's Coffee shop at Fillmore and Sacramento streets, police said.

As witnesses dialed 911, the thief jumped into a waiting silver Mercedes sport utility vehicle and sped off with two accomplices, police said. With officers in pursuit, the SUV struck a motorcyclist and a TV news van before a brutal crash with a Mazda minivan at Buchanan and Hayes streets, police said.

The boy, struck by flying debris, suffered only a minor injury and was not admitted to the hospital, officials said. But three other people - two suspects in the robbery and the driver of the minivan hit by their getaway car - were treated at San Francisco General Hospital, where all had been released by Thursday, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Police arrested three people fleeing the damaged getaway vehicle, including the driver, who they suspect was drunk.

"Obviously these people had absolutely no regard for public safety," said Officer Albie Esparza, a police spokesman.

(...)

The chaotic string of events marked the latest incident in what police say is a rise in robberies and muggings involving high-priced smart phones, tablet computers and other personal electronics. Investigators are exploring possible links to other robberies, police said.

"It's a chronic, chronic problem," police Capt. Ann Mannix said. "There is such a high resale value for iPads and iPhones - criminals are taking them left and right. And recently they're not just taking them, but they're assaulting people severely."

(...)

Robbers targeting iPhone and Android users; crime epidemic being called "Apple Picking"

by Tom Wait, WXYZ

(WXYZ) - Is your Apple iPhone or Android cell phone making you mugger bait? Police say robbers are watching as you text and make calls, ready to pick off your expensive smart phone.

Police are calling the robberies “Apple Picking,” a play on Apple iPhone users who are often the targets.

“Lately there’s a lot of people, where they’re walking and they’re getting the phones taken out of their hands – or beaten up for them,” said Clare Glesser, a student at Wayne State.

And in fact Wayne State had such a serious problem with so-called “Apple Picking,” at one point police were recording at least one robbery a day. The campus issued a crime alert and the incidents have decreased, but it’s still a major issue.

One of our own interns was a victim. She stopped to give someone directions when they ripped her iPhone 4 from her hands and then drove off.

“I wasn’t texting or listening to music. I was just trying to help someone who said they were lost and couldn’t find their class,” said Gabriella Pagan, a Wayne State student and 7 Action News intern.

Gabriella’s phone was likely wiped and sold on the streets. Wayne State Center for Urban Studies Professor David Martin says some lower tier service providers will activate a stolen phone.

“You just show up and they’ll give you a new SIM card and boom, you’re on your way,” said Professor Martin.

Crimes are also taking place across the country, where cameras have caught robbers assaulting unsuspecting victims as they walked down streets using their phones in broad daylight.

(...)

“Would you walk down the street with cash in front of you? Or if you were counting it would you be somewhere where you couldn’t be as likely observed and targeted. It’s just that simple. It’s a valuable device,” said Lt. Dave Scott with the Wayne State Police Department.

Girl, 19, is shot for her mobile phone

The U.K. Mail

A teenager is fighting for her life in hospital today after she was shot in the head at point-blank range by a robber who stole her mobile phone.

The 19-year-old was attacked as she walked along Lea Bridge Road, Walthamstow, east London, just after 5pm yesterday. During a struggle she had her Nokia 3310 phone snatched and was then shot once, sustaining a fractured skull.

The victim, of Asian origin and from nearby Waltham Forest, is said to be in a serious condition in intensive care.

Detective Inspector Gerry Campbell of Chingford CID said: "This was a horrific act, given the fact the mobile phone had already been stolen and the shooting took place afterwards-There was no need for it. It was an act of cold-blooded violence committed solely out of malice.

"We think the snatch took place and was followed by a struggle. It was after the struggle that the shot was fired. We do not know what type of gun was used but are sure it was a pistol of some sort."

Thefts of mobile phones are fueling a street crime epidemic. The latest crime figures show a 42 per cent increase in phone thefts this year. They now account for 39 per cent of all robberies dealt with by Scotland Yard.

Mr Campbell added: "We would advise anyone who is threatened to hand over their phone immediately."

Get the Cell Out - ATL

Sunday, November 18, 2012