Latest target for thieves and armed robbery, Smart phones.

[msgt/ret]

Even the criminals want the “latest and greatest”.

Thefts of cell phones rise rapidly nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — In this tech-savvy city teeming with commuters and tourists, the cell phone has become a top target of robbers who use stealth, force and sometimes guns.

Nearly half of all robberies in San Francisco this year are cell phone-related, police say, and most occur on bustling transit lines.

One thief recently snatched a smartphone while sitting right behind his unsuspecting victim and darted out the rear of a bus in mere seconds.

Another robber grabbed an iPhone from an oblivious bus rider — while she was still talking.

And, in nearby Oakland, City Council candidate Dan Kalb was robbed at gunpoint of his iPhone Wednesday after he attended a neighborhood anti-crime meeting.

"I thought he was going to shoot me," recalled Kalb, who had dropped his phone during the stickup. "He kept saying, 'Find the phone! Find the phone!'"

More here: EarthLink - U.S. News

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Crowman]

Comes as no great shock.......

[ANGLICO]

Man is someone going to be really dissapointed with trying to rob me of a 'smart phone'. Not only do I not carry a 'smart phone' = too much data at risk (professional data/OPSEC and personal), but after the sorry sucker sees my 5 year old flip phone, I will hurt them (in a legally defensive manner when warranted!)

[blanco64]

"And, in nearby Oakland, City Council candidate Dan Kalb was robbed at gunpoint of his iPhone Wednesday after he attended a neighborhood anti-crime meeting."

Sounds like the City Council needs to pass MORE, even STRICTER anti-crime/gun control laws, since they obviously don't have enough to get the job done.

Sometimes you have to wonder if the reporters are secretly on our side when they write something ironic like this.

[Brad426]

There's an app for that.

[SFury]

As smaller devices increased in reliability and popularity they began to get stolen en masse. Think about it, they are smaller, easy to grab, easy to hide, and can be sold quickly. For a small amount of effort, the criminals can get some type of easy reward.

[Poseidon]

Criminals realizing smartphones are big money. In Serbia and most of eastern Europe Iphone 5 goes for $700. wouldn't surprise me if most of the iPhone 5 on EBay are stolen.

[OldVet]

That's not "new" news. Like above, they wouldn't want my "dumb" phone.