Videogame console thefts have risen dramatically over the years, according to data released by the FBI.
A USA Today story indicates that reported cases have risen 285% over three years, to a number of 42,615 such incidents in 2009. That number is even more astounding when factoring in that overall property crime numbers, which include theft of electronics, dropped from 10.0 million in 2006 to 9.8 million in 2008.
The FBI produced the numbers at the behest of Congressman Anthony Weiner (D-NY), who wanted to see the data after complaints from constituents about electronic thefts.
Weiner’s take on the growing problem, “It's the omnipresent, miniature electronics crime paradox: Even as crime goes down, when you have more electronics, you have more theft.”
Laptop computer thefts grew from 96,834 in 2007 to 128,280 in 2009, a gain of 32%. Cellphone snatches were down over the same period however, dropping 5% to over 106,000 stolen in 2009.
University of Massachusetts-Lowell Criminologist Larry Siegel added, “Criminals are rational. They steal things that have high value, are easily transportable and easily sold.”
Comments
Re: Lock Up Your Consoles
See, even if I was to steal a console, I would have enough honor to leave the games and the HDD/memory cards. I wouldn't mind my Xbox being stolen nearly as much as I would mind losing my saves and downloadable content along with my Xbox. Steal my Xbox, yeah that sucks, but I can deal (but of course kick the crap out of the person if I find them, call the cops, etc). Steal my hardrive though...and there's hell to pay. Countless hours spent playing maybe a hundred different games, downloaded content, all sorts of other crap. There's no point nor no honor in stealing that. Grr...
-Optimum est pati quod emendare non possis-It is best to endure what you cannot change-
Re: Lock Up Your Consoles
I would beat that person to the brink of death to work so hard to make the money and have it stolen oh hell no
Never underestimate the power of idiots in large amounts.
Re: Lock Up Your Consoles
Good warning since thefts also vastly increase this time of year.
Re: Lock Up Your Consoles
Easy to figure out why.
Property Crime number dropped from 10 to 9.8. That's marginal.
During the same period, console prices were VERY high. Home invaders knew that, and were more willing to take them due to resale value vs portability.
Try running out of a house with a 37in TV. Possible, but not nearly as easy as grabbing a PS3 AND a 360, which would have added to about the same value (remember, these numbers are from before the price drops)
Re: Lock Up Your Consoles
Wonder if there's specific numbers on which consoles are more likely to be stolen, like what car make and models are stolen the most.