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IPod Devotees Rocked by Thefts |
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Saturday, 16 April 2005 |
Victims of Growing Crime In Area Say Loss of Playlist Makes Them ...
Washington Post - USA
Victims of Growing Crime In Area Say Loss of Playlist Makes Them Feel
Violated
The burglar visited every room of Sara Scalenghe's Northwest Washington
apartment, stealing an expensive digital camera and a gold necklace passed down
from her grandmother. But Scalenghe did not begin seething until she confirmed
her biggest fear: Her new iPod had been swiped, too.
The digital music player held 50 favorite songs, ranging from Mozart to Italian
rap. The device also contained thoughts on a looming dissertation and recorded
conversations with friends. For Scalenghe, her privacy, as well as her home, was
invaded.
"I know it sounds silly, but it changed everything. I was really upset," said
the 34-year-old graduate student. "I can't explain it. But it hurt."
Across the Washington area, thefts of digital music players are rising, police
say, putting Scalenghe and others through the emotional trauma of losing
something that has become an increasingly important and personal part of their
lives. Victims said they felt the thieves got an illicit glimpse at their
musical tastes and even their "souls."
Introduced just a few years ago, the portable music players have exploded in
popularity and are changing the way people enjoy and purchase music. Roughly the
size of a cell phone, iPods and other MP3 players allow users to create unique
playlists of thousands of songs that can be taken anywhere. The devices
typically sell for $100 and up; the songs are an additional expense.
Some thieves also have taken the home computers or laptops on which the music
was stored. In some cases, massive music libraries -- built by painstakingly
converting compact disc collections into digital format -- have vanished.
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