The Urban Institute has decided to raise the question, has the iPod caused a full out crime wave? It is possible, anyone owning an iPod knows the risk that comes with it. Apparently as Apple’s sales of the iPod have increased so has the robbery rate.

FBI statistics have shown that although the robbery rate was reducing since the 1990’s it actually jumped in 2005 and 2006. It went from 137 per 100,000 in 2004 to 141 per 100,000 in 2005 and 149 in 2006. In 2004 Apple sold 5 million iPods, at the end of 2005 had reached 42 million and in 2006 almost reached 90 million.

According to the researchers all it takes are three different elements, a motivated offender, a suitable victim and a high chance of getting away with it. According to them all three aspects are found with the iPod. When asked if there was no iPod couldn’t it be concluded that thieves would just go for a different gadget of some sort? The researchers are unsure at that point. Now, what does that change for those of us sporting an iPod? Not really a whole heck of a lot, most of us were aware that we needed to watch our precious gadgets if we intended to hold on to them.

[via tuaw]