Muni, SFPD Launch Smartphone Safety Campaign

Photo: davitydave

You might’ve heard some updated PSA recordings from the bus, reminding us to be aware of our surroundings and to keep tabs on our mobile devices. SFMTA and SFPD are turning that message into public-service ads, further cautioning riders to stay aware when using mobiles on Muni. From a Muni press release:

Recent targeting of smartphones and other high-end electronic devices by thieves are the focus of the public service ads. Two different versions show customers using an iPhone and an iPad and use the tag lines, ‘Be smart with your smartphone’ and ‘Thieves know an opportunity when they see it,’ respectively.

This is all too familiar to the Muni Diaries community, unfortunately. In December, we had a stolen iPhone on the 38-Geary. In January, we had a thwarted iPhone theft on the 38L, reminding us that 1) sticky fingers abound and, 2) we won’t all be that lucky. SFPD released these images of alleged iPhone thieves on the J-Church, and Officer Matthew Friedman even asked for our help spreading the safety word.

So keep these important tips from SFMTA and SFPD in mind:

• Be aware of your surroundings and the people around you.
• Don’t allow your attention to become distracted from your property.
• If you are using an iPhone, don’t use the standard issue white headphones as these are identified with the devices.
• Use the security features, such as a security code log-in, to protect your information from identity theft.
• If you are a victim of a crime, do not resist. Take mental notes of the suspect’s description and report the incident to the police or Muni personnel immediately.
• If you see a theft in progress, please call 911.

In sum, keep it on the DL and keep an eye on your things.