While all smartphones, tablets and other next-generation gadgets are cool, owning an Apple product has a certain elite ring to it. The iPhone, in particular, adds to a person's cool factor, especially since the new model was recently released.
Unfortunately, fame often sparks desire, which is exactly what is happening with Apple products. In fact, a report by the New York Daily News said iPhone and iPad thefts are up 44 percent this year as opposed to 2011. As of mid-April, there have been nearly 1,200 Apple product thefts, compared to only around 830 reported during the same time last year.
Other reports suggest that this trend is not just occurring in New York. According to a story by The Sun, a recent theft in Ormskirk, West Lancashire, England, is raising questions as to how far a criminal will go to get his or hands on one of these coveted gadgets.
The news source said a man allegedly followed a family into a Hypes clothes store after witnessing the child was watching a television show on an iPhone. When the mother turned around, the thief reached into 20-month-year-old Luella Reid's stroller, snatched the device and walked out of the store.
"Luella loves Barney The Dinosaur and was watching a show on my phone," mother Danielle Hinnigan said, according to The Sun. "I thought maybe she had dropped it, I never thought someone would go in her pram and take it off her. I'm just glad it was just the phone and Luella was OK."
While the entire incident was recorded by the store's video surveillance cameras, local law enforcement officers are asking individuals to review the tape and help them identify the criminal, The Sun noted.
"This is a despicable offence where it appears that the suspect has deliberately targeted a child knowing the crime would be relatively easy to commit," West Lancashire Inspector Andy Willis said, according to the news source.
By deploying an innovative CCTV surveillance system, retailers may be able to not only eliminate situations where their products are stolen, but also keep their customers' possessions safe. As the mobile industry continues to evolve and drive criminals to covet expensive gadgets, retailers should do their part to reduce the frequency of these occurrences.
