Think tank pins Apple's iPod as possible culprit for increase in violent crime

We know what you're thinking, and trust us, we're right there with you. Nevertheless, The Urban Institute, a Washington-based think tank, has reportedly come to the conclusion that the reason US violent crime rose in 2005 and 2006 after declining every year since 1991 is because more iPods were on the streets. You heard right -- these researchers are suggesting that the "iCrime wave" occurred primarily due to the popularity of Apple's darling and the relatively high value of possessing one. Granted, the iPod has been the focal point of quite a few muggings in the past, but blaming a fruit-flavored PMP for a nation's sudden urge to take up larceny? Pfft.

[aldogg Posted Mar 5th 2008 4:05PM]

Oh!!!. I agree with this article i will have to sell my iphone before somebody kill me
for one of these, no kidding!!!, now i am in a third world country.
If i just accepted those 300$ that some one offer to me i will be happy now walking on the streets

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2008 4:24PM]

Why is there always "SOMETHING" to blame. It can't be the fact that humans are violent by nature. That's to much of any ugly truth isn't it? The "we" are, in fact, responsible for our own actions.

No! It's iPods, it's Video Games, it's Rock & Roll, it's TV, it's Comic Books, it's Billiard Halls, it's Witches. But -- it's NEVER the 3 fingers pointing back at me is it? It's everybody else's fault.

[psyclotron Posted Mar 5th 2008 6:15PM]

iPod's a witch! BUrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrn them!

[Wwhat Posted Mar 6th 2008 7:23AM]

Yeah (american) people are violent, but they are trying to explain a surge, that is above average you see. They already took the normal assholeness into account and subtracted that.

[Sofabutt Posted Mar 5th 2008 6:08PM]

The iPods definately have cause a crime wave. Just like the Cabbage Patch dolls of the 80s and Lawn Darts of the 60s. iPods are killing people on a daily basis.

I blame Steve Jobs.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2008 5:48PM]

White wires advertise the brand, us with no-name earbuds are ignored by the thug-inclined because they do not know what is on the other end.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 5th 2008 7:33PM]

Obviously 95% of us know that 85% of statistics are made up on the spot. The remaining 15% are extrapolated from the 85% for PR purposes of the 96.25% of organisations you've never heard of before.

Through the 50's & 60's it could be demonstrated that there was a clear and direct correlation between the increase in TV ownership and the increase in violence. The same correlation could be demonstrated between refrigerator ownership and violence.

Thus it could be concluded that the increase in violence is due to the increase in usage of age-defying anti-wrinkle creams.

[mistwolf Posted Mar 5th 2008 10:12PM]

Guns kill people, too, the people holding them have no actual responsibility, any more than the people stealing iPods do. :P

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 6th 2008 2:17AM]

Crazy coincidence, i got mugged for my iPod on my way home from school, Didnt give it up though...

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 7th 2008 1:02AM]

If its a violent crime its not larceny, it's robbery.

[Wwhat Posted Mar 6th 2008 6:59AM]

Apple made HP go all criminal too, and they made MS release sub-par products because it's 'in', tisk tisk apple.

[(Unverified) Posted Mar 30th 2008 10:35AM]

There's a problem with how everyone's saying that the earphones are dead giveaways, it lies in the fact that they always break. I have had two iPods over the past three years or so, each coming with their own respective set of 'phones, and they have both broken. I have had to buy new earphones. My second pair broke within a month after I first used it, and, though they are still usable, they are uncomfortable in my ears. Both of them have messed up bass response, and, frankly, I hate them.