Smartphone Mugging More Popular Than Ever

SternisheFan writes with this snippet from gizmodo: "The Associated Press reports that smartphone robberies now account for nearly half of all robberies in San Francisco, as well as an impressive 40 percent here in New York City. And the numbers aren't just high, they're getting higher fast. In Los Angeles, smartphone robberies are up 27 percent from last year, with no signs of slowing down. The thefts come in all varieties as well. Victims have reported having their phones—iPhones in particular (surprise!)—yanked out of their hands while talking, snatched just as public transit reaches a stop, or even taken at gunpoint." When I was relieved at gunpoint of my (very, very dumb) phone a few years ago in Philadelphia (very, very dumb), it made for a lousy evening. Have you been robbed (or accosted) like this? If so, where?

Comments

Yonder 'n FL

[Penurious Penguin]

Here in south-western Florida, it seems purloined phones aren't too popular among thugs. Two friends who were mugged on the same street on separate occasions both still had their phones after they'd been beaten lightly (I love that string). They both lost their wallets and one lost his bike, but not their phones. Others have lost their lives, but I don't know about their phones. This is, after all, the place where two British tourists were killed for no apparent reason.

Perhaps it's time to begin integrating some serious self-defense attributes into these otherwise worthless "smart"phones. Yes, I despise smartphones. But I may consider one if it were mounted to a solid stick, or if it shot lightning and pepper-spray.