NYPD Sez: don't wear those iPod headphones

Just in case you forgot that apparently rocking that iPod on the subway can get you in trouble with those of nefarious intent, the NYPD has apparently been handing out pamphlets with tips on iPod safety maneuvers:

TRANSIT SAFETY: DON'T BECOME A VICTIM! Keeping yourself and your belongings safe within the New York Transit System

LET'S STOP iPOD THEFT

* STAY ALERT
* KEEP YOUR iPOD… OUT OF SIGHT
* DON'T STAY BY TRAIN DOORS WHEN USING ELECTRONIC DEVICES
* BE ALERT FOR PICKPOCKETS WHEN LISTENING TO MUSIC
* CHANGE THE EARPIECE COLOR WHEN RIDING IN PUBLIC

Recap. They don't want you flashing your iPod around, listening to music loudly, or wearing the trademark iPod headphones? Uh, are there any other reasons left for New Yorkers to own an iPod? Seriously, if people started abiding by these rules, the L train (and to a lesser extent, F and G) would probably shut down entirely.

[robotplague @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

then there are those who have a not too hot mp3 player/discman/whatever and buy ipod headphones so it appears they're rockin an ipod...i bet theives hate that.

[robotplague @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

then there are those who have a not too hot mp3 player/discman/whatever and buy ipod headphones so it appears they're rockin an ipod...i bet theives hate that.

[Homer J @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

You should also, remember to tie your shoes, brush your teeth, and comb your hair.

Is it just me, or are these the most obvious suggestions someone could offer?

[Frangible @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Personally, I think allowing Texas law for iPod theft on the subway would be a more entertaining solution.

[Josh @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

One would think that if someone stole your iPod while you were listening to it, you would notice the sudden lack of music.

[Freddy @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

its NOT gonna happen. the ipod is a fashion accesory for women. They HAVE to show off the earphones otherwise nobody will know that they have an ipod.

whats the point of them buying the ipod and than having to wear different headphones? It's just like buying a polo shirt and getting rid of the horse.

[AaronPaul @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Being a Midwesterner - I didn't even know I needed an iPod thingy until I visited Manhattan last month. Man those are dope! I just recently got a portable tape player with a rewind function. Do iPods rewind?

[skmetal7 @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

who would want to wear thoes crappy a$$ earphones anyway? do your self a favor and buy some Shure's, or sony's

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Old news. It was common sense then and it's common sense now: "Try not to let people know you have something really expensive on you if you're in a high crime area." Astonishing news today.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

It's good advice if there is definitely a slew of scumbags snagging iCraps out of people's possessions.
As for the fashion accessory aspect of it. Yeah... wanker fashionistas. I guess they deserve to get robbed from time to time to remember they are just normal people too.
I'd like to see a study on whether the thiefs are USING or SELLING the iJunk. If they are using them, that says that perhaps there's something to the fanboy patheticness of the sheep culture behind them. If they are selling them, the criminals are only smart to know that bozos will seek them out for discount corner prices readily.
Pissed must be when they want one for their pleasure and end up with a iShuffle and realize how really stupid they are.

[douglas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

i usually have my shuffle in my pocket as well (since i use that for the gym after work and my 40 gig for the train)... so if anyone ever tried to mug me (which is highly unlikely at rush hour mind you) i would just pull that out - it's still a loss but a much smaller one.

this would work with any cheap DAP really... just a thought.

[Bmpressed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Homer J- What would you suggest then? These won't work?

Josh- People are getting mugged not pick pocketed as much. By knife or gun point or sheer intimidation.

I live in NYC. It's not as big of a deal as people are making it out to be but if you're a woman or small you may be targeted. PSP owners beware as well.

[Bmpressed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Homer J- What would you suggest then? These won't work?

Josh- People are getting mugged not pick pocketed as much. By knife or gun point or sheer intimidation.

I live in NYC. It's not as big of a deal as people are making it out to be but if you're a woman or small you may be targeted. PSP owners beware as well.

[mike @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

It's just like buying a polo shirt and getting rid of the horse.

----

uh.. i could have sworn it was a music player..

[Arthur @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

um guess what folks, we're in america. where we aren't responsible for anything. eg. we get run over b/c we don't look both ways and it's 99% the drivers fault or fat lady spills hot mickey d's coffee and gets a million and we get some mcd's not letting us buy coffee at the drive thru. so our liberties are encroached by the majority dumbass american worker bees who can't hold on to their ipods. those aren't NYPD handing out pamphlets btw, they're Apple ad execs.

[shp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

I solved the problem by replacing them with a nice pair of $330 Etymotic ER-4s. No one seems to realize that these not-exactly-sexy earphones are worth more than the damn white, shiny player thingie.

http://etymotic.com/ephp/er4.aspx

[Bmpressed @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Arthur- I started to type, "What the hell are you talking about", but then I stopped myself. I was about to say it's preposterous that anyone would sue Apple for getting mugged because this product makes them susceptible to thieves. But, I can't. It's sad. Apple execs. or not. The reality is, people are getting mugged and people do need to be...not just CAREFUL but AWARE while wearing headsets. I can't tell you how many people I see "zone out" once they have headphones on. People fall asleep with headphones on, iPod in hand on the trains. If you look like you're aware you won't get picked as a mark.

[Victor Healey @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Err - anyone?

What is the TEXAS LAW for iPod theft?

Why don't they have it in NYNY?

[Frangible @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

"What is the TEXAS LAW for iPod theft?"

Let's just say you don't want to get caught stealing something in Texas by the owner of said item.

[Eric @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Whoa, wait a sec...does anybody else notice that if you just switch around a few letters that "NYPD" becomes "MSFT"??

[tpp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

#7, forget about the iPods, they don't rewind right. What you really need is a DVD rewinder. Those are so great!

[Brian @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Wonder if Apple service will sell a person the plastic shell of a Shuffle. If a thug asks for your iPod, hand them the empty Shuffle and keep the 60G Photo in your pocket. :)

[Justin @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

You know, only fashionista assholes wear the included white headphones. The included headphones ALWAYS SUCK. What retard uses the included headphones with ANY audio device? How stupid can you be? My $60 Audio-Technica Aluminum headphones make the white included headphones sound like listening to music through a pile of mud. Dammit.

[Malfoy Roark @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

shp, how'd you come across those headphones? My friends keep recommending seinheizers or Sonys. They really worth the 330? Or you do other music stuff that requires near perfect sound?

[iBode @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Someone really needs to come up with a iPod gun/taser/ teargas sprayer thingy. There are plenty of broken iPods on eBay that you could use.
Or some company could make an iPod case with something like that.
They would sell like crazy.

[1337freek @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

i live in brooklyn take the train all the time and i know the whole ipods to NYer ratio of 3:1 is just a whole load of bullshit i took 2 trains today and didnt see one ipod i would say one out of every 1000 people have an ipod on
the train also while i have never seen an ipod related crime i have seen theft of cellphones and other stuff and
someone did attempt to mug me even though i had nothing on me

[musiclifeline @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

The Etymotic ER4P 'phones really are great, and they do look like crap. I think it's hilarious. I also think it's hilarious that Shure's E4c heaphones are also $300 and don't stand up to the Etys. And they're in Mug-Me White, to boot. Then again, even Ety jumped on the CrApple bandwagon with the $149 ER6i... which are okay, but... well, the ER4P makes everything else sound processed. Like "cheese food"...

[SQEgee @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

I would just keep a junked out tape player strapped to my belt loop and make it look like my iPod headphone were plugged into it while my iPod sat safely in my pocket :)(CAUTION: May involve scotch tape and imagination!)

[shp @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Malfoy Roark, I was looking for a single set of reference-quality earphones that I can use for both mixing and general listening. The sound quality is impressive - I've never heard clearer sounding phones in my life (though I must admit that everything I've tried has been in the < $800 category)). They also isolate you almost completely from the world outside (which can be a bad thing in some situations, and some people seem to find it disturbing).

[douglas @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

i use the sony eggos usually (sound great AND they fold) but since it's been a thousand degrees in new york lately, and i don't like sweaty ears, i've switched to the white buds for now which i think for included headphones with an audio player aren't so bad (i know i know that doesn't say much).

[Jnetty @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

I think its a good advice about he earphones at least. I don't know how many times i'm at the gym and all i see around me is white earphones. Its a clear dead giveaway that you have an Ipod.

[Ron @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Meh. The iPod is great, but the earbuds suck anyway. I threw mine away soon after I opened the box. Do your ears a favor and buy some Etymotics or Shures or (though not so much for portable listening) Sennheisers.

[some_bloke @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

I've got a good way to keep my iPod from getting stolen...

It's called a Glock 19.

Instead of hiding from society's thugs, I think more people should stand the hell up for themselves instead of getting pushed around. Learn how to defend yourself...

[fox @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

You know, if everyone had an iPod this wouldnt be a problem.

[Andrej @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

I bet somebody let their 7-year-old nephew do the story recap, 'cause suggestions for reducing iPod theft has nothing to do with a subway shutdown, even if it is NY. (Is that ever going to happen?!)

[Anony-Mouse @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Wow. Not one person managed to say something even remotely feasible. Fake ipods? Great idea lets think of even more things I can fill my pockets up with since the cellphone, real ipod, and wallet aren't enough. Moron. Here's the only surefire way to avoid being mugged... Move away from that dirty apple and go someplace where you can walk down your sidewalk at 2 AM without getting raped and/or getting your precious ipod stolen. Frankly it depresses me, visiting that city. Just one giant toolbox is what it is.

I find it amusing that they don't post similar guides on how to not get mugged in general.

[Chris @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Anony-Mouse you're an idiot. Move away? NYC is one of the safest cities in the US. Unless you want your brain to rot from sensory deprevation living in Fargo or other bland but "safe" town most people are going to choose to live in a fun, vibrant, enjoyable city even if it means having to keep your eyes open occaisionally.

[John @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

Hi,

My name is Anony-Mouse.

I like to shoot my mouth off on topics I have no idea about.

I'm an idiot!!!

Sincerely,
Anony-Mouse

[Narcos @ Dec 19th 2005 12:54AM]

dude... those stupid, crappy iPod headphones have only one use: Refrigerator magnets. My Shure E3c's go everywhere with me. They're not all that flashy, and nobody can really tell what you have hooked up to them, much less that they're $180. Before these, I used to walk around with a pair of Bose Triports around my neck. Cumbersome, but WONDERFUL sound. Very good for listening at home or use in a studio.