Nearly a fifth of 2013 New York City thefts involved Apple devices

Apple devices are still in high demand -- just ask New York City thieves.

Products by the Cupertino, Calif., company, such as iPhones and iPads, accounted for more than 18% of New York’s grand larcenies in 2013, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal that cites the New York Police Department.

In total, more than 8,000 Apple devices were stolen last year, leading to a 13% increase in grand larceny arrests compared with 2012.

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The NYPD said thieves usually snatch the gadgets while on public transportation -- where users have their devices out and aren’t paying close enough attention to their surroundings.

The Journal analyzed crime numbers from 2002 through 2013 to gauge the effectiveness of Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration. While most crime went down significantly -- such as murders decreasing by 43% and vehicle thefts decreasing 72% -- grand larceny fell just 1%. And since 2010, grand larceny has been steadily increasing.

Bloomberg and the NYPD both pointed to Apple devices, noting that in 2002 there were only 25 cases of grand larcenies involving Apple products.

So what can users do to keep their property safe? Every Apple owner should make sure Find My iPhone is enabled on their devices. That service, which comes free from Apple, allows users to track their gadgets using GPS.

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