Beats By Dr. Dre have quickly become THE must have accessory for music lovers all over the city.  While more of a fashion statement than an aural one, these headphones, often costing almost $300, have not gone unnoticed by muggers either.  Whereas smartphones and mp3 players were the bees knees just a few months ago, there has been a startling increase in the number of muggings for a shiny new pair of Beats.  

According to a source at the Post, "They’re very hot among thieves... It’s like, ‘I see it. I want it. I can have it. I’m taking it for me, or my sister needs a pair."  

Since these headphones have been released, they've morphed into a status symbol, especially amongst teenagers and high school students.  And, as with most expensive status symbols, the black market is waiting for them with open arms.  

According to the data, dozens of Beats have been stolen in the past few moths in North Brooklyn alone.  While it is difficult to get an accurate number, as Beats aren't expensive enough to be insured, these muggings have been spilling over into trendier neighborhoods as well.  On April 17th, a teenager in Brooklyn Heights was punched in the face for his pair.

I guess it's time to break out that pair of headphones that came with your 1984 Walkman; you'd be hard pressed to find a thief with eyes for those beauties.  Apart from that, unless you need a boost of highschool cred, there are many other headphone options out there that sound better and are cheaper than Beats, so just do some research and skip the punch to the face.