North Vancouver Schools a Hotbed of iPhone Theft

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12:29 am on February 1, 2010 | Category: Mobile Devices, Cell Phones

High schools in North Vancouver, British Columbia have seen a surge in the theft of iPhone and iPod Touch devices, according to a local police detachment.

One high school has had approximately 30 iPhones and iPods stolen since September, leading North Vancouver RCMP to suspect that some teens have turned stealing mobile devices into “their full-time job.” While investigating the thefts, police have interviewed some suspects as young as 13.

“I think the motives for the thefts are the same as when I was in school,” said Constable Sherri Wade, a Youth Intervention Officer with the North Vancouver RCMP. “Some want what they don’t have. Some people like the rush that comes with doing something that could get them into trouble. Some probably need or want the money that comes from re selling the phones.”

Police are now encouraging students to either leave their iPhones at home, or take one or more safety precautions. Such precautions could include using the passcode lock feature, which prevents unauthorized users from accessing the device without a four-digit code, or registering the iPhone/iPod’s serial number at Apple’s website (making it easier to prove ownership in the event of theft).