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Smartphones Driving Violent Crime Across US

alphadogg writes "Incidents of cellphone theft have been rising for several years and are fast becoming an epidemic. IDG News Service collected data on serious crimes in San Francisco from November to April and recorded 579 thefts of cellphones or tablets, accounting for 41 percent of all serious crime. In just over half the incidents, victims were punched, kicked or otherwise physically intimidated for their phones, and in a quarter of robberies, users were threatened with guns or knives. This isn't just happening in tech-loving San Francisco, either. The picture is similar across the United States. A big reason for such thefts, until recently, is that there had been little to stop someone using a stolen cellphone. Reacting to pressure from law enforcement and regulators, the U.S.'s largest cellphone carriers agreed early last year to establish a database of stolen cellphones."

5 of 204 comments (clear)

  1. Ban Smartphones by dadelbunts · · Score: 5, Funny

    We should enact more stringent controls for cellphone ownership. These cell nuts going around with their smartphones putting us all in danger. What do you need a 30 app mag for realistically. How am i supposed to be safe when any criminal/cell nut can just pull out their cellphone and thats it, bang, im dead.

    1. Re:Ban Smartphones by ganjadude · · Score: 4, Funny

      I mean if we just outlaw cell phones, people will stop getting robbed for their cell phones! violent crime will drop!! Genius!!!

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      have you seen my sig? there are many others like it but none that are the same
    2. Re:Ban Smartphones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      When smartphones are outlawed, only outlaws will have smartphones!

    3. Re:Ban Smartphones by MysteriousPreacher · · Score: 5, Funny

      What about our right to bear ARMs?

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      -- Using the preview button since 2005
  2. Re:There's no real excuse for violence by lxs · · Score: 4, Funny

    There's no real excuse for punching someone or threatening them with violence when taking their smartphone.

    If they are making a call while the rest of us are trying to watch the movie, I think this treatment should be mandatory.