By Kassondra Granata
Apple released their newest product the iPhone 5 on Sept. 21, selling up to 5 million units throughout the first three days of its availability. Just like the iPhone 4S, the iPhone 5 starts at $199 for the 16GB model, $299 for the 34GB model, and $399 for the 64GB prototype.
According to many different media outlets, the new product has created an app store “boom,” being the fastest selling iPhone in history.
Alongside the increase of sales of Apple products, the toll of theft, termed as “apple picking,” has skyrocketed in the past year. According to the Huffington Post, Apple thefts have soared to 40 percent. In The New York Post, an article estimated that that Apple crime has jumped 55 percent.
NYPD announced that more than 11,400 Apple gadgets have been stolen this year. Around New York City, stationed officers were placed outside 21 different stores to assist buyers in registering their devices when they purchased the iPhone 5. Paul Browne, a spokesman for the department, said that about 1,500 phones were registered on the first day.
According to Apple Insider, Apple-related thefts have succeeded other crimes in New York City such as murder, rape and robbery. Because of this, “Anti-Apple Picking” campaigns have spread across the nation to heighten the monitoring of these thefts.
Apple should deliberate on how expensive their products are as an underlying reason to why these “iCrimes” exist. Browne said that there has been a rise of 3,280 Apple thefts during 2011. There must be a pattern. As Apple products continue to expand, so does its price. More customers cannot afford it, so stealing is their next option.
The mania of consumers and Apple products has always been a fascination of mine. Every time a new product is put on the market, headlines of different news avenues have something to say about its popularity. What is hard to comprehend is why owning an Apple product is so prevalent?
As a disclaimer, I currently do use a MacBook Air for work-related purposes that was bought and paid for by The Recorder. I do agree that it is a high quality device with many different perks.
However, I would not waste my time standing outside of an Apple store rain or shine to be one of the first ones to purchase a product, nor do I deem it eminent enough to join in this latest trend.