In New York, Chicago, London and other big cities, iPods and cell phones have been cited as the cause of an upswing in recent mugging incidents.

One teenager in Brooklyn was killed in July over an iPod.

Two Brooklyn teenagers were arrested early yesterday on charges that they robbed and killed a 15-year-old boy in the Farragut neighborhood when they stole his friend's iPod, the police said.

The victim, Christopher Rose, was walking with three other boys late Saturday afternoon when a large group of teenagers approached them and demanded that they turn over the iPod that one of the boys was carrying, according to the police and witnesses. When the boys refused, one of the suspects began hitting them, said Kenneth, 15, who was with Christopher at the time of the attack. Then someone stabbed Christopher twice in the chest.

There have been countless muggings in various cities where victims are relieved of iPods and cell phones, but allowed to keep wallets and cash. Runners and students are reported to be among those most frequently targeted.

The iPod along with fancy tricked-out cell phones have become this generation's status symbols. Your trendy white earbuds and cyborg-esque looking Bluetooth headset are flashing neon signs reading, "I am an easy target. Please rob me".

Now, I understand that certain sacrifices are necessary for fashion, such as comfort, in the case of shoes, and pain, in the case of eyebrow shape, but looking cool and trendy is not worth getting yourself pummelled to hamburger- or worse, killed over.

So, here are some tips to not get your trendy butt mugged:

1. Get different earphones. The uglier the better.
Crooks will have trouble discerning whether those ugly phones are connected to a $400 iPod or a $10 tape deck.

2. Don't listen to your iPod or talk on your cell phone while you are walking alone in a parking garage, or any other place where there aren't a lot of people hanging around.

3. Be aware of your surroundings. If you are off in la-la land, you are a prime target.

4. Women:

  • Change out of your heels into flat comfortable shoes (this is totally acceptable, I see all kinds of hottie business women on the Metro in nice suits and tennis shoes.)
  • Don't wear ponytails. Ponytails (and other updos) make great handles for thugs to drag you around by.
  • Have your keys ready, in your hand before you leave the building. If you are attacked near your car, kick your keys under the car, so the creep can't get you in the car.

5. Men (and really tough women):

And, if you are mugged, give up your iPod. Yeah, it's going to suck losing your favorite toy, but you won't be able to enjoy it anyway, if you are dead.