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

Serial Numbers

[Archeopteryx]

All of these phones know their serial numbers. Just make it totally impossible to ever register a stolen serial number for new service and this should slow way down.

Re:Serial Numbers

[kronnek]

They can just be sold in another country. Lots of stolen cars in Mexico and none are being run for vin/plates in America... Same thingin EU.

Re:Serial Numbers

[icebike]

IMEI blacklists are widely used in Europe. The problem is that, at least in Norway, few people actually bother to have the IMEI blacklisted if the phone is stolen.

In the US the vast majority of phones are purchased thru carriers. They already have your IMEI on file.

The FCC has finally gotten the four big carriers to start blocking IMEI numbers of stolen phones. You simply go back to your carrier and tell them you need a new phone because your old one was stolen. They will automatically add the stolen phone to t a nation wide database of stolen phones. It takes no effort on the users part.

While new IMEIs can be programmed into stolen handsets, the thieves don't have the skills to do this, (if they did they would be in a safer more profitable line of work). They just use the stolen phone till it dies and then steal a new one. I suppose some thieves work for rings exporting their wares to foreign countries.

Re:Serial Numbers

[Anonymous Coward]

In Australia all the carriers refer to a single database of stolen phones (via IMEI number), and smartphone theft (mugging style) is almost non-existant here.

Re:Serial Numbers

[ShanghaiBill]

They can just be sold in another country.

Or they can be sold in San Jose, California, where it is legal to steal phones. My wife's iPhone was stolen, and when she called the SJPD, she was told that "We don't do cell phone thefts, just download the insurance form from our website. <click>"

Re:Serial Numbers

[Anonymous Coward]

Better yet, have your butler tell your lawyer to send them a letter.

Re:Serial Numbers

[Kookus]

You know you can take a black-listed phone into verizon stores and they'll give you a refurb?
The story of: "I bought it on craigslist and it won't register" works wonders.

I was amazed that even worked, and pissed off at the same time. My phone was stolen out of my office, and I figured blacklisting it would bring me vengeance... wrong.

My wife's nook was stolen at the same time. She blacklisted it. Then had a book purchased on her account 6 hours later... She called in again and said wtf? They told her that whoever blacklisted it for her didn't do it (hard to find competent people).

So that gives another reason to think that blacklisting doesn't work, because the damn idiots don't punch it into their computers.

I also got a buddy at work who's from China. He has family back in China that actively engage in acquiring broken electronics. iPhones are great. Blacklisted, broken, who cares? They strip the things down and make their own refurbs good as new and resell them.

So yeah, unless Police actually crack down on this, then the only other way to curb this activity is if the phone physically blows up and kills/maims the people stealing them while people cheer on the spectacle.

Re:BEWARE !! THE SMARTPHONE BANDIT STRIKES AT WILL

[notdotcom.com]

I had somebody ask me to use my smartphone at a light rail station in a reasonably nice part of Denver (at 11pm). I politely refused, but I couldn't help but wonder if this person was out to 1) just make a call, which was obviously not an emergency, 2) call some sort of pay-per-call or txt number that would put $20 on my phone bill and the person would get a commission, or 3) just start running, or pull out a weapon, and steal my phone.

Is this a common tactic for stealing phones?

I couldn't help but wonder if I should have let the person use it (I'm about 6'5, 265lbs, with a 36 inch waist, I exercise, etc - so it's not like I was picked out as being the "easy target")

In the end, I concluded that I was right to refuse a stranger access to my $700 "pocket computer" which contains all of my personal information, and costs about a hundred bucks a month to keep services to, in addition to the cost of the device.

Re:Bricked by Company?

[Mr. Freeman]

This has been brought up before. In Europe it's common to do this and theft rates are down. Thieves don't bother stealing them because the phone will be worthless within a couple hours. In the USA however, carriers have realized that theft makes them money. Victims have to buy a new phone to replace the stolen one. Carriers have a financial disincentive to brick stolen phones or assist victims in any way. Hopefully the government will make the choice for the carriers and force them to brick stolen phones in order to curb the growing crime. It's an easy way for any politician to reduce crime and win points for reelection.

Re:Never had that experience...

[schnell]

I left my BlackBerry on the dashboard of my car the other day. Some bastard broke into the car and left three more BlackBerries there.

Re:Simple...just buy an Android phone...

[EnsilZah]

I guess this wasn't the Droid they were looking for.