To thieves, iPods are the new Air Jordans
While white earbuds have been turning on thieves in larger cities for some time, now smaller cities are seeing a rise in iPod-related thefts.
The Stockton Record reports that robberies of juveniles are growing faster than the rate of overall robberies and part of the reason is that personal electronics (specifically the iPod) have “created a little more of a target-rich environment,” according Stockton police Officer Pete Smith.
Georgia State University criminologist Volkan Topalli notes that “It’s new that it’s iPods, but it’s not new that it’s kids robbing kids,” pointing to the 1980s, when Nike Air Jordans first appeared and teens were shooting each other for the shoes.
Like transit officials warning against wearing white earbuds, teens are getting some advice from their parents about being more aware of how visible their possessions are.
“It would be tight to show your friends what songs you’ve got, but you don’t know who’s around,” Eighth-grader Mercedes Hinojosa said. “They might be triflin’.”
And though I know ‘tight’ doesn’t refer to the fit of clothes, I’m apparently too old to know what ‘triflin” refers to.
Robberies put S.J. teens on edge
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If that’s the way your kid is verbalizing it, then you may want to consider swapping out that iPod for an old fashioned book.
Being in a big race to flaunt our status symbols is always going to backfire. Remember Starter jackets? PS2s? PS3s? Is this news or common sense? iPods don’t kill people (or get them robbed)… A mutual mix of arrogance, narcissism, jealousy, and greed do.
Good information. :)
It means they’re making rum-soaked cake covered with fruit and cream. Geez, Eddie, get with the times.
Yikes! Still, I think I would cry more if someone stole my Air Jordan shoes than my iPod.