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NYPD Team Working With Apple to Catch iPhone, iPad Thieves

The theft of iPhone and iPad devices has become so prevalent in New York City that police have formed a team dedicated to working with Apple to track down thieves, according to a new report.

By Angela Moscaritolo
February 22, 2013
NYPD at Apple Stores

The theft of iPhone and iPad devices has become so prevalent in New York City that police have formed a team dedicated to working with Apple to track down thieves, according to a new report from The New York Post.

New York City police officers have begun sharing the unique identifying numbers of stolen phones with the Cupertino tech giant, which can track the device's location regardless of which wireless provider the phone is registered to, the report notes. Police hope the partnership leads to the arrest of criminals who grab and resell victim's sought-after Apple devices.

"We're looking for ways to find individuals who have stolen Apple products and return the products to their original owners," NYPD spokesman Paul Browne told the Post. "It is being done to learn the pattern who is stealing."

The NYPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Police are having some success with the effort. With Apple's help, police also nabbed a man suspected of selling stolen iPads at a city bus stop.

Another stolen iPad was reportedly traced back to the Dominican Republic, and recovered by the NYPD. According to Browne, however, 74 percent of all stolen Apple devices are found within city limits.

The theft of Apple devices in New York City lead to a spike in robberies and larceny in 2012, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said last year.

To combat phone thieves, the city last year launched the "Anti-Apple Picking Campaign," encouraging customers to register their iDevice with the NYPD. At the iPhone 5 launch in September, police were stationed at New York Apple stores to register new iPhones.

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About Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

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