Word To The Wise: Beats by Dre Headphone Heists Hamper Heights

By on May 8, 2012 11:10 am in Brooklyn Heights, crime, Kids, War On Fun

Apparently, swiping iPhones from unsuspecting New Yorkers is sooo yesterday. The New York Post reports that Beats by Dr. Dre Headphones have become the du jour choice of NYC muggers. The high-tech noise-canceling headphones cost a risible $300-$500.


The Post says heists have been focused in uptown Manhattan, while in Brooklyn North—which includes Williamsburg—”there have been dozens of Beats heists over the past four months.” Word to the wise: The Heights has not been spared. According to the newspaper, “The thefts are going on even in trendy Brooklyn Heights, where a goon demanded a pair from a teenager after barking, ‘Give me your Beats!’ April 17. After the victim turned them over, he was punched in the face.”

The rapper’s branded headphones have become a status symbol, according to a police source, and are being nabbed from kiddies at an alarming rate since the latest model hit the market at Christmas. They’re typically snatched aboard subways or as teens walk to and from school. “If you are wearing those headphones, you might as well wear a sign that says, ‘Come and rob me,'” an investigator said.

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  • Quinn Raymond

    You might as well wear a sign that says “I am willing to overpay for crappy-sounding headphones.”

  • She’s Crafty

    I can’t concentrate on the rest of the article because I’m so thrilled we’re trendy instead of staid and boring.

  • http://www.flickr.com/photos/13189502@N02/ Eddyenergizer

    Who says Rap Music doesn’t contribute to crime.

  • AmyinBH

    “The high-tech noise-canceling headphones cost a risible $300-$500.” I have a decent job and that is beyond my reach. How are kids paying for these? What kind of parent buys a kid $300-$500 headphones?
    I also don’t even walk around with the headphones that came with my mp3 player for fear of someone sneaking up on me for no good.

  • Homer Fink

    The headphones are quite fantastic. The price not so much.

  • Jared

    I’ve listened to the Beats by Dre headphones and I am completely underwhelmed by their audio signature, especially at that price. Pick up a great pair of in ear headphones with a black cable and no one will the know the wiser what kind of phone is in your pocket.

  • Willowtowncop

    No one wants to buy stolen phones anymore because they can be traced or bricked too easily. These can’t be traced.

  • http://heatherquinlan.com Heather Quinlan

    I miss my blotter.

  • cat

    @Heather: And the blotter misses you.

  • David on Middagh

    Taking Willowtown’s comment into consideration, maybe those with expensive headgear should take it into a jewelry store and have it engraved with their names.

  • David on Middagh

    Also, can you say, “Heights Beats Heists” ten times fast?