Is it reasonable to walk around the street with a €579 AirPods Max on your head? While most people will tell you yes, that it is never a problem, this is not the view that London residents will have. Indeed, an impressive trend is underway in the capital of the United Kingdom: the snatch theft of AirPods Max. Thefts from scooters are so common that the media are reporting on them!
AirPods Max thefts spiral out of control in London
The streets of London are seeing a worrying increase in thefts of AirPods Max. The headphones, prized for their exceptional sound quality and sleek design, have become a prime target for thieves, attracted by their high resale value on the second-hand market.
The methods used by the criminals are particularly effective, a common technique is to rip the helmet directly off the victims’ heads. This operation is often carried out by individuals on scooters when traffic is flowing, which allows them to flee quickly, leaving the victims without the slightest chance to react. These attacks mainly take place in busy areas, where the thieves can blend into the crowd before disappearing.
Given the scale of this phenomenon, the London police have decided to step up measures to try to stop this wave of thefts. Internal communications have been sent out to police stations to raise awareness among officers about this problem that has become all too common. Police officers are now trained to spot suspicious behavior, such as young people riding slowly on scooters near people wearing AirPods Max. These criminals are always waiting for the right moment to rip the headphones off their victims’ heads.
A testimony was reported by the British media outlet “Inside Edition”. A victim recounted being attacked by two individuals on a scooter while she was walking quietly in the street. The thieves forcibly snatched her AirPods Max, leaving her shocked and helpless.
This growing insecurity is pushing many AirPods Max owners to stop wearing them in public. For fear of being stolen, some now prefer to use AirPods Pro. The latter, less visible and significantly less expensive, are harder to steal and are a more secure alternative.
The impact of this damaging trend could soon be felt in the UK’s AirPods Max sales. Indeed, the main appeal of these headphones is to be able to use them on the go, whether it’s for commuting to work or for weekend outings. However, the fear of being stolen is putting many Londoners off wearing them outside, reducing their appeal.
This phenomenon is not limited to London. A year ago, New York was also facing a wave of AirPods Max thefts. The New York police then launched investigations to try to stop this escalation, but the thefts continued regardless, demonstrating the difficulty of countering this new form of delinquency.