It's Your iPod® – Protect It.

iPods are Hot!

iPods and MP3 players have quickly become some of the most popular and widely used portable media players with people of all ages. Their frequent use while people are on the go and are less attentive to their surroundings – and the visible white ear buds – have made them an easy target for would be thieves in urban areas, on campus, and on public transportation systems. Without built–in anti–theft deterrents or subscriptions, iPods and MP3 players are left fully operational if stolen.

Your iPod Security Solution

With these factors in mind, Master Lock® created the iPod iCage™, a locking skin for protecting your iPod player. The iCage creates added security and convenience to your media player with a lightweight metal skin, scratch resistant cover, and set-your-own combination lock and cable. Most iPod users purchase a skin for scratch protection – why not buy a skin that adds a convenient security solution as well? Visit the iCage products page to find one that fits your iPod.

iPod Theft Statistics

National statistics are not detailed enough to tell how many robberies involved iPods, but statistics from New York, Washington, DC, and the San Francisco Bay area show that iPod thefts were responsible for a significant fraction of increased crime in those areas. Things got so bad in New York subways in 2005 that warnings were posted that read "Earphones are a giveaway. Protect your device.”

  • Washington D.C.
    • From January through April 2007, 30 iPods were stolen from Metro customers. iPod thefts totaled 34 in all of 2006, and just two in 2005. (Washington Metro Area Transit Authority)
    • 2007, robberies of iPods on the Metro alone account for approximately 4% of all robberies in the city, compared with well less than 1% of robberies in 2005.
  • New York
    • In the first three months of 2005, major felonies rose 18.3% on the New York City subway — however, if cell phone and iPod thefts are excluded, felonies actually declined by 3%,
  • Washington
    • March 21, 2007, exact numbers in Seattle are hard to pin down, but the latest police figures show 135 iPods have been stolen, many by force, over the past 3 1/2 months.
  • San Francisco
    • There were four reported iPod robberies in 2004, 102 in 2005, and 193 in 2006.
    • 2004-2006, iPod robberies accounted for 23% of the increase in robbery in the entire city over that time.
  • Los Angeles
    • Police statistics indicate that robberies of iPods and cell phones are up 34 percent this year, accounting for about 1,700 of the city’s 8,000 total robberies. (LAPD November 9th, 2006)

Source: Apple's iPod Linked To iCrime Wave — iPods — InformationWeek

A recent report from the Urban Institute proposed that the proliferation of iPod and MP3 player aided in the national violent crime rate increase over these past couple of years (2004-2005). To check out the “iCrime Wave” report, visit the link below

Source: National Crime Prevention Council — Is there an iCrime Wave? (pdf)

To learn ways how to safeguard yourself and your personal belongings, visit Security Tips for important safety measures.

To learn more about iCage products, click here.