With the current increase in thefts and muggings involving iPods, many teenagers are refusing to simply hand over their MP3 player devices to muggers, insisting they’ll fight to protect their shiny handheld music players.

Student Adam McDowell states he’d fight to protect his iPod. Standing at six-foot-two, the student is adamant that he wouldn’t just hand over his prized possession:

“I’d fight them back, or run. And yell, or something. I just don’t worry about it. I’m just tall, I guess.”

Adam has only had his iPod for three weeks and insists that the money he spent on it is the reason that he wouldn’t just give it up to someone wanting to steal it from him.

It has become a real problem of late with teenagers being targeted for their iPods. Teenagers are seen as easy targets because they can be intimidated by gangs and often carry expensive items such as iPods, MP3 players, games consoles and mobile phones about their person.

Child behavioural expert Gary Direnfeld explains the reason behind teenagers refusing to hand over their iPods.

“The iPod to the teenager is the baby to the mother. These kids are so invested in their music and in their playlists, it’s like they put their identity into their song selection. So you’re not just stealing a device, to them you’re stealing an identity.”