Defending Against iPhone Theft: Is There An App For That?

As cell phones become sophisticated to the point where they're fully functional computers, boasting prices to match, the tiny wonders have become targets for theft. Most of the cost is diverted to the service contract, but Apple's popular iPhone 3G costs about $300, Palm's Pre costs $150 and the Blackberry Bold is about $200.

They're a pickpocket's dream come true, although many of the reported thefts have been committed with brute force.

The arrest of Rogers Park teenager Anthony Williams (Fox Chicago), accused of multiple thefts of expensive "smart" phones is a case in point. He allegedly stole fancy phones, one valued at $500, from at least two women on the North Side.

In one of the incidents, Williams allegedly took the $500 phone right out of the victim's left hand and fled the scene. She wasn't injured. But the other theft carries a felony strong-armed robbery charge, since he allegedly punched the woman on her right ear and took the iPhone from her coat pocket.

He allegedly said to the victim, "You in our hood."

Mabye, but the laws of the land apply to all hoods and Williams--who was picked up after detectives found him through an investigative alert notice--now will have to use his own phone to call an Ilinois criminal attorney.

Williams already has a criminal history and most recently was arrested and charged for having a fake gun, a misdemeanor. And at least three similar cases of iPhone robberies on the North Side have been reported, but he has not been linked to those crimes.

So in answer to the question in the headline: Yes, there is an app for securing one's iPhone, probably several, but one called Undercover got a rave review from Geek.com.