!!!Five Most Stolen Gagets!!!

Every day, the gadgets we use become smaller, more portable, and more valuable. Unfortunately, this increase in convenience also raises the appeal of these devices to potential thieves. Here, Switched presents tips to avoid becoming a theft victim for the five common gadgets, as well potential ways to recover your property if it's stolen. And no, we're not recommending using a taser for any of them.


IPODS
Since iPods and other audio players are valuable, don't require subscriptions to use, and lack built-in theft deterrents, they're very popular for thieves. Major cities have begun cautioning commuters, like New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority, which released a poster reminding subway riders that "Earphones are a giveaway. Protect your device." In San Francisco, iPod robberies on the Bay Area Rapid Transit system accounted for 23% of the increase in citywide robbery from 2004 to 2006.

Laptops

Now that laptops are smaller and more popular with both home and business users, they're increasingly in danger of being stolen. Even worse, they're rarely recovered – Safeware, an insurance company specializing in computers, estimates 5% of laptops will be stolen within 12 months of purchase and only 3% of those will be returned.

Cell Phones

Whether it's because of theft or drunken stupidity, finding yourself phoneless can cause big trouble. It's estimated that 600,000 phones will be lost or stolen in a year, and there have been several cases of people footing the bill for unauthorized calls. Unlike credit card issuers, cell phone companies may still hold you responsible for charges made after a theft, leading to some unfortunate cases where victims were liable for thousands of dollars in charges, even after they proved they didn't make the calls. It's all in the contract's fine print, so be careful.

GPS Devices

The gadget that has seen one of the largest increases in theft the portable GPS system. Small, valuable, and easy to spot in unattended vehicles, these devices are getting snatched up because they're often easy to resell for around $100 a piece. Many of them are resold in secondhand electronics stores, sometimes in contraband packaging as new or slightly used. In fact, many areas are reporting over 100% increases in the amount of stolen GPS systems. Montgomery County, Maryland even had an increase of 328%, from 189 in 2006 to 620 in 2007.

Car Stereos

Even if you're not carrying a GPS unit, chances are you still have a stereo system in your car. While stereo theft is down due to the variety in models and sizes, custom decks, speakers, and other equipment are still prime for theft – thanks a lot, 'Pimp My Ride' – due to their high value.