iPhone thefts are on the rise in Detroit and around the country. The Detroit Police Department is warning residents about "Apple picking."
Wayne State University is reporting an increase in iPhone thefts over the past year.
Lieutenant Dave Scott says the Wayne State Police Department is frequently alerting students to iPhone thefts via emails. He says college campuses across the country are popular targets for smart phone thefts.
"iPhones are very popular," he said. "College campuses around the country have students that want the latest and the greatest electronic gadgets, so universities may seem to be a target rich environment for people with the latest gadgets out there."
Scott says the police department is warning students that openly carrying an iPhone around campus is like holding out a handful of cash.
He says they've successfully decreased thefts, but he expects the crime will continue.
"Because it's an easy crime to commit," he said. "It's very quick. The profit margins are high. The risks are low, and people do seem to realize that they have an item of value that's easily stolen."
Scott says the Wayne State Police Department has about a 50% arrest rate in recent iPhone thefts.
-Sarah Kerson, Michigan Radio Newsroom
