Recent posts have talked about mobile phone theft in Europe.

If you live in the US, you will no doubt have seen the news stories about cell phone theft here. You may have seen the video of thieves driving a stolen BMW through the front window of an Apple Store and the woman being mugged on the street for her phone.

According to the stories, 1 of 3 US robberies involve theft of a cell phone. The street value of an Apple phone is ~$300 in the US.

So there is no reason to be particularly paranoid about your phone in Europe. Phone theft is an international phenomenon.

There is cell phone theft all over the world. No sensible person would think it only happens in Europe.

Why is the street value more than retail? If this is true I can go to an Apple store and buy new phones and sell them on the street and make money. Why buy a stolen one when you can buy a legit phone for less money?

There is never a reason to particularly paranoid, but the surge in smartphone theft in Europe is a new wrinkle for tourists in particular. Phone thieves think Americans are more likely to be carrying a smartphone than some other kind of phone (or a Ipad or some other desirable, trendy device).

In recent years, thieves in many parts of Europe weren't much interested in zeroing in on tourists, except maybe on rental cars, hoping to nab a GPS. But these "smart" devices with internet connectivity have quick street value (they are very expensive in Europe to buy in stores), so now a tourist and their bags look more interesting to a thief.

As usual, protecting your stuff is easier at home than when you travel. To the greatest extend possible, book hotels with room safes that are big enough to hold your electronic devices and be careful where you use your smartphones and Ipads in public. Don't put your phone in a exterior purse pocket or belt holster, even if it is not a smartphone. A thief will grab first and examine later.

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Why is the street value more than retail? If this is true I can go to an Apple store and buy new phones and sell them on the street and make money. Why buy a stolen one when you can buy a legit phone for less money?
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When is the last time you priced an iPhone? You won't get one at the Apple Store for 300 bucks! LOL

<i>book hotels with room safes that are big enough to hold your electronic devices</i>

From my experience--no safes in the European hotels where I stay--it implies a higher hotel cost. At which point does the cost of the hotel exceed the replacement cost of the electronic device(s)?

<< When is the last time you priced an iPhone? You won't get one at the Apple Store for 300 bucks! LOL >>


Since I had no idea what iphones cost and saw the $300 street price I went on line to apple.com and saw that they cost $99 and $199. I did not do a lot of investigation but looked at the general prices.

I've only been in an apple store once and that was once too many. I should have sent my nephew with my credit card and told him what to buy. Customer service is definitely lacking in the stores and with on line customer service.

I don't get that street price, either, it is way too high. You can't get a new iphone for $200 except with a long-term contract, it costs more than $500 if you buy one without that contract. Still, $300 is a bit much. You can get one for $200 with a contract.

$200 is the subsidized price if you agree to a two-year contract, typically paying over $100 a month for phone/internet service. If you break the contract there's a great penalty. $300 for a phone without any contract commitment is low in comparison.

You can purchase a brand new IPhone 5 16GB from Apple for $199.

Michael,

On all my recent trips through Italy, Spain and Portugal and Greece, booking a room with a laptop-sized room safe didn't increase the cost of the room. In some places, I couldn't find a hotel that offered them. But where I had a choice and picked the hotel with the large room safe, the price of the hotel was the same. It's just a question of whether owners have modernized and are trying to attract a certain clientele.

The 199 prices are for a plan with a particular carrier and lock you in for two years with a data plan. Unlocked phones go for a lot more.

Also, Micheal, for most people, the loss of a laptop isn't just the cost of replacing the device. But to your basic question: my laptop cost much more than $199. Even if it cost more to book a hotel with a room safe, the daily difference in price would have to be staggering before the cost of replacing my laptop would be cheaper for a typical-length trip.

If all you are carrying is an I-phone, it will fit in a conventional safe.

By the way, the parador where I stayed last week in Spain had a room safe. And that was in rather untouristed area of Spain near Vigo. You make it sound as if you think only modern hotels in big tourist centers have large room safes. Nope.

Total of my double room at the parador with the large room safe AND dinner for two plus breakfast and parking?

64 euros.

I am not an Apple fan-boy, as they are known on the Web. I am not even an Apple fan-grandpa. I still use a flip phone and don't text or do instant messaging. All I know is what I hear on TV.

I did look up a 64gig 4S on Verizon, who gave a list price something like $899 with a plan price much lower than that.

"The 199 prices are for a plan with a particular carrier and lock you in for two years with a data plan. Unlocked phones go for a lot more."

I'm a little confused, but will check it out today. My ATT account says I can switch phones for no fee now on my 18th month of a 2 year contract. I can buy the smaller Iphone (fine for me) for $199 directly from Apple and activate it at ATT. However, if I buy it for that same price at ATT, then I need to sign a NEW 2 year contract. At least that's how they explained it to me. Am I missing something?

And just when you think it's safe... make sure you wipe the room safe's keypad in case it has been sprayed to show up your combination.

OK, I WAS confused. Buying directly from Apple at the $199 price apparently requires a two year contract as well. I never realized you do contracts with Apple for the phone service with various carriers.