Myth or not, the story that muggers are specifically targeting
folks with iPods has gotten a fair amount of press since it was
first reported, and has convinced at least one police department
to make a rather half-hearted attempt at returning peace of mind
to the city's subway commuters. For the past three months, New
York City cops have been offering iPod and other portable device
owners a way to "register" their gear -- wherein the officers
mark your hardware with invisible ink and copy down the serial
number -- in order to provide victims with a slim but tangible
chance of recovery. The two-pronged approach ensures that even
if thieves figure out a way to wash off the ink. which is only
visible under infrared lighting, they may not be wise enough to
file off the serial numbers as well. So far, over 2,000 gadgets
have been marked at Transit Bureau offices and tables located
around the subway system, although the program has yet to help
any victims recover their stolen goods, so it's probably not a
bad idea