Preventing iPod & Laptop Theft
It’s not like it hasn’t been said before, but for some reason people always act surprised when I mention that I choose not to use the standard Apple iPod headphones because:
a) I think they suck
b) They don’t stay in my damn ears and thus defeat owning an iPod if I can’t listen to the music I just bought (Raul Midon)
c) They are a dead giveaway to thieves/pickpockets/a**holes that you have a $150+ yet remarkably small device that’s easy to resell on the street or eBay and easy to hide.
Why am I so jittery? I’m not, but having been on the losing end of having a laptop stolen, living and working in NYC, and using the NYC subways (which are safer than they seem, but not safe enough to wave an iPod around dangling from your belt clip), I’m smart enough to pay attention to my surroundings. Stay away from the panic that’s boiling within you. You don’t REALLY need to make your “I have an iPod” fashion statement and even if you do, I’m sure you would rather keep said iPod rather than risking someone taking it.
(Your purchase supports Secret Weapon Labs) Now, I’m not the only one saying this. Or see here for more info. So my solution was simple, I purchased the Sony headphones pictured below which are less revealing, inexpensive ($10.00), sound great, and are better for active users (think joggers) versus the crappy standard headphones.
If you want another tip, if you’re part of the mobile workforce, check out the bags over at Tom Bihn (your purchase does NOT support SWL) as the bags definitely don’t scream “EXPENSIVE LAPTOP” as the bags they sell at Staples and other generic office/computer supply places, but are sturdy, well-designed, protective, and good-looking.
UPDATE
This unfortunate news came across me after I wrote this post, but apparently an 11yr old boy was stabbed over refusing to give up his iPod. Click here to read the article from NYPost.com. Clipping below:
July 3, 2005 — A gang of thugs brutally stabbed and killed a music-loving teen on a busy Brookly street yesterday in a bid to steal his ipod - the first known murder in the Big Apple over the increasingly popular and expensive portable music players, police sources said.
Christopher Rose, 15, of Bushkill, Pa., was in town to visit his mother when he was stabbed.A mob of six to 10 people surrounded him and three friends around 5:30 p.m. and demanded the iPod, police said. “They were trying to get his iPod, he resisted, and subsequently he was stabbed,” a police source said.
…
iPods, which cost from $200 to $320, have become almost omnipresent in the city over the past year, and are increasingly the target of thieves.
Yeah.. it is pretty sad when people mug people just to get an electronic device
I also agree that the white earbuds look pretty stupid.. and its deffinatly a good idea to change them. Another cool that that I’ve seen done, is to take like a cheap CD player and take out its insides and convert it to a stealth iPod case. Pretty sweet idea, as a lot less people would be willing to steal a $15 CD player vs a $299 iPod 
(I mean, you can get them free, but that takes a lot of work 
)
I knew the boy that was killed for the ipod and I think that it was a unfortunate event that took place and shouldve never happened R.I.P
Ciasia,
I’m terribly sorry that you do know the young man. It really is a tragedy. Such things are impossible to rationalize.
Christopher was my god brother. I spent easter weekend with his family and one of the boys he was with when this happened. He was a great kid. unbelievable. we need to do something about these things. RIP always *Chris*.
Great anti-theft bags, check out the couriersafe anti-theft computer courier bag
http://www.pacsafe.com
Great article on laptop theft and how serious it can be for everyone.
Here’s a great article on thieves that steal laptop computers, why they do it (datat mining, quick cash on Ebay, etc…), how they do it and how to best protect yourself and your laptop. This is a absolute must read for everyone:
How to take a major bite out of laptop computer theft from Bestbraindrain.com
M. Smathers