It shouldn’t be news to anyone that conspicuously displaying your iPod on the Metro is going to make you a target for petty thieves and pickpockets, but the Metro Transit Police Metropolitan Police Force has issued another warning after a spike in iPod-related thefts on Metro over the last four months. Between January and April of this year, thieves stole 30 iPods from Metro riders. In all of 2006, thieves stole a total of 34 iPods. From WTOP’s story:

Police suggest you switch your white iPod headphones to black ones so your iPod is less noticeable. They also want you to put your music at a low to moderate level so you’re more aware of your surroundings.

Officers have been handing out identification decals and recommend you register your cell phones, iPods, mp3 players, Blackberries and other electronic devices with a national database to make the items easier to track if they are stolen.

Other safety tips that police are offering:

* Avoid talking to strangers;
* Hold your purse tightly to your body;
* Put your wallet in your front pocket;
* Call Metro Transit Police at 202-962-2121 if you see anything suspicious.

Photo by epmd.