Luckily, we haven't heard any fatal stories about iJackings lately, but if you own an iPod you're highly at risk of being iJacked. Dateline recently did a report on iJacking, so when Apple declined to work with them in tracing stolen iPods, they did so themselves. But is it in Apple's best interest to track lost or stolen iPods? Probably not. After all, lost iPods means more sales of new iPods.

One recent study featured in the New York Times, suggests there may be a link between the explosion of iPod sales and the rise of violent crime in recent years. According to a study by the Urban Institute, FBI statistics show violent crimes increased for the first time after 14 years in 2005, mostly due to robberies.

In this study, researchers noticed several things. First, there was a disproportionate increase in robberies than any other crime. There was also an increase of juvenile offenders who tend to see iPods as status symbols; and finally, they saw an increase in robberies particularly from 2004 to 2006 when iPods entered the mass market. More importantly, they say iPod owners appear to be the most susceptible to robberies because:

* iPods have no anti-theft protection
* iPods don't requires any subscription
* iPods are viewed as a status symbol
* iPod owners are less aware of their surroundings
* iPod owners are easy to identify via visible cords

There are many ways to protect yourself from being a victim. You've probably heard it all before, but here are several things you can do to protect yourself and your iPod. I've outlined them on this post, but here's the gist:

* Hide it from view
* Ditch the white earbuds
* Register your iPod with Apple
* Mark or engrave your iPod

Stay safe out there, and remember to take the necessary precautions to avoid being iJacked. Just another reason to get an iPhone right. That one at least requires a subscription.

Source

Great news ! tho I feel the statistics and everything were only from US. I don't really think Malaysian robbers wouldn't care if the victim's own an iPod.

Maybe, maybe not. Well, you see, robbers still whatever that is expensive.. Once they get an iPod, who knows, they sell it?

Uh wrong, not Still, steal!

This post has been edited by abang brother: Sep 29 2007, 09:10 PM

abang got a point there... it just like how handphone got stolen, they could just sell it to anywhere or anyone. of course now they say that u report ur IMEI no. n they could block it to use on any network...

the price for buying an iPod in Malaysia is around getting a handphone... sure ppl would wanna buy 2nd hand for cheaper price, without knowing is a stolen stuff....

firstly it would be wise not showing of ur ipod..just u n a few friends maybe, who know that u own an ipod..then, use other color earphone..black ka..pink ka..

Can show to some people, just don't show it in public, like changing songs and put it very high..

I got friends asking me whether my iPod is real or fake version la..

Not really surprising, since there are boatloads of China-brand mockery of the iPod in their own pirated/counterfiet knock-offs. Sure you can copy the looks, but when it comes to the click-wheel and Coverflow, the similarities end there. After all, you get what you pay for.

Show them the engraving, the click wheel and the iPod interface, that should convince them that your iPod is the real deal.

do malaysia robbers have any clue about what an ipod is in the first place?

So does Malaysians actually know how to diffrenciate iPods from the earphones?

robbers in malaysia now also 'cerdik2' one..they know which expensive thing


if they know what ipod is, then they should know ori ipod earphone..don't they?

wow robbers do research on the internet? lol

first of all, there is COUNTLESS ipod imitation mp3 players out there.

thieves are often dumb and has no money, there is no way they will know how an ipod earphone is because they are countless white earphones that looks similar.

u cant compare thieves in malaysia and in the US.

thieves in malaysia steals wallets and handphones and handbags. they will take the whole basket instead of that piece of apple in it.