iPod, that criminogenic device
The iPod: Lightning Rod for Criminals?
Crime statistics released Monday by the FBI showed violent crime increased in 2005 and 2006, and a new Urban Institute analysis offers evidence that the concurrent explosion in iPod use may have triggered the spike.
The gadgets are not just entertaining and convenient; their high value, visibility, and versatility make them “criminogenic”—or “crime-creating,” in the vocabulary of criminologists. And their power to distract users can give thieves an advantage. Researchers John Roman and Aaron Chalfin suggest in the report “Is There an iCrime Wave?” that iPods’ popularity with consumers and appeal to criminals may have translated into rising violent crime rates.
Talk about unexpected impact of technology on society. How long until people start defacing their iPods to feel safer?
