IPod Devotees Rocked by Thefts Victims of Growing Crime In Area Say Loss of Playlist Makes Them Feel Violated
By Del Quentin Wilber
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, April 16, 2005; Page A01
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."
In the first three months of the year, D.C. and Fairfax County police each reported about 50 thefts of the portable music players in burglaries, thefts from cars and robberies -- an increase, both departments said. Other area communities have reported scattered thefts and robberies. The latest episode unfolded early yesterday, when a man was critically wounded when he was stabbed and robbed of his digital music player as he walked near the National Zoo.
Other victims also spoke of their digital music players as though they were as precious as jewelry. Sean Bennett, 34, a University of Colorado medical student, lost his device when a thief ransacked his car in January while it was parked in downtown Washington.
Touring several East Coast hospitals a few months ago, Bennett had packed his Nissan Pathfinder with clothes, a guitar, a few CDs and his new iPod, which contained several thousand songs. It had been given to him by his girlfriend and inscribed: "Sean Rocks! XOXO."
While his vehicle was parked on New York Avenue NW and he grabbed lunch nearby, someone smashed the Nissan's rear window and grabbed his guitar, a leather jacket and his engraved player. Bennett spent the next 10 days continuing his drive across the country but without the music he cherished.
A thief struck John Hoctor's Capitol Hill rowhouse March 14, stealing a digital camera, a laptop and an iPod that contained more than 2,000 songs.
Hoctor, 36, recalled how he had spent weeks huddled over the laptop, transferring his CD collection to his computer's hard drive. His collection of music is gone, and it feels as if he lost a friend.
"This relationship with my iPod was built on downloading all the music," he said. "The time and effort of developing a library, it makes you very connected with the library. It took the better part of two months. Now I have to start all over again."
Experts said they are not surprised that victims are reacting so strongly, because people often form special bonds with music.
"Everybody has a lot of memories they associate with music, and musical taste is usually very important to people," said Anita Boss, a forensic psychologist in Alexandria who has counseled crime victims. "You actually have a piece of identity theft here."
She added: "Anytime something is stolen that is so personal, victims are going to have a reaction like that. It's not the same as stealing a coat."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A57629-2005Apr15.html
