iCrime

Just recently I read an article concerning a report that linked the increase in crime rate due to the popularity of iPods, which is also addressed in the RedTape blog. The link is included if you wish to read further. Besides the discussion of increase in the crime rate, there is also discussion pertaining what is being done to help stop gadget thefts. The first is not the best proactive approach, but it seems like a good idea to me. And the second is good idea for some expensive gadgets:

JustStolen.net that allows victims to register their lost items in a nationwide database accessible to law enforcement officials. Should a stolen item show up in a cache of gadgets recovered by police, it can be returned to the rightful owner. So far, hundreds of thousands of stolen items are listed on the site. No idea on how many have been returned to their owners, as agencies can contact victims directly without notifying the person that set up the site.

GadgetTrak, is a service that can be installed on almost any USB-enabled device which will make a stolen gadget "phone home" as soon as it is connected to a computer with Internet access. Registered devices, when told to do so, will send the user's IP address, computer name and other identifying information to GadgetTrak, which then provides the data to the victim so it can be shared with police. The service costs $12.95 a year.