SYRACUSE -- This week's Crime Tracker report focuses on robberies. Police find people often incorrectly use robbery and burglary as synonyms. A burglary occurs when someone breaks into a building and commits another crime. A robbery involves the use of violence or a threat to steal from another. In the first three weeks of April the Syracuse Police Department responded to 24 reported robberies. Last year they had 454 such calls. Also during April the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department had only two calls for robberies. No matter where you live, work or play there are techniques you can use to keep from becoming a victim of a robbery.
Technology plays a role in how we live. When people are out walking, running or biking at Onondaga Lake park there's a good chance they are wearing their iPod earphones. Sheriff Department Sergeant Rich McCarron says, "what do we see most people have when they're walking. iPod earphones on. Already you're concentrating on walking or running or the two mile markers. You can't hear what's coming up behind you."
In fact a study by the Urban Institute Justice Policy Center out of Washington D.C. concluded the increase in popularity of iPods corresponded with an increase in violent crime across the nation. FBI statistics in 2005 and 2006 show the number of robberies going up at the same time iPods and other similar MP3 players became a hot ticket. The combination of the easy to spot headphones and the high resale value of the electronic device made them an easy target. Robberies in Syracuse also happened to shoot up during those two years, although they have since retreated a bit.
In addition the music distracts the user making them an easy target for a criminal. Sergeant Rich McCarron stresses the need to be aware of people around you, "the best thing you can do is to pay attention to your surroundings know what's around you be attentive of who is around you." McCarron also points out as much as technology can make you vulnerable it can also assist you when in distress. McCarron said, "I recommend everyone have a cell phone to summon emergency help If something happens to you here you're in the middle of the park and its dark. Every minutes you lose to get help is another minute that person has to run from the scene."
