IPod thefts drive increase in New York subway crime
Apple Computer’s iPod digital music player is so popular that it alone accounted for about half of the rise in robberies and felony thefts this year on New York City subways, officials said.
After years of declines, subway crime has jumped 9.8 percent so far in 2005, with 94 more felonies than a year ago, according to the New York City Police Department. Fifty of those incidents involved iPods snatched or taken under threat of force. Criminals also took 165 mobile phones, an increase of 83.
Apple has sold more than 15.3 million iPods since 2001, with sales soaring sixfold to 5.31 million players last quarter. The units, which can cost as much as $450, come with distinctive white earbuds, which can draw the attention of thieves, authorities said.
Criminals, it turns out, are particular. “It could be any cellphone, it’s just a cellphone, but according to the NYPD, it’s iPods, not a generic device” that criminals want, said transit spokesman Paul Fleuranges.
DENVER
Oil-pressure drop grounds Frontier jet
A Frontier Airlines plane carrying no passengers ran into trouble at Denver International Airport on Friday.
Frontier was flying the Boeing 737 from Denver to Oakland, Calif., to return the aircraft to its lessor. It’s one of Frontier’s last Boeing planes as the airline completes a conversion to Airbus planes.
The plane had three pilots on board, said Frontier spokesman Joe Hodas, and one noticed that gauges showed a loss of oil pressure after takeoff.
Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said the pilot did not declare an emergency. He said the plane lost pressure in both engines but was only 10 or 15 minutes away from the airport and was able to turn around. Hodas said the airline is investigating what caused oil pressure to drop.
WASHINGTON
Wild Oats inducted in SBA Hall of Fame
Boulder-based Wild Oats Markets Inc. was one of four businesses inducted into the Small Business Administration’s Hall of Fame on Wednesday.
With early-stage SBA assistance, Wild Oats purchased a single natural-foods store. The concept grew store by store into the nation’s second-largest natural and organic foods supermarket chain, with 110 stores in 24 states and British Columbia.
Wild Oats received investment funding through the Small Business Investment Company program in 1994 and 1996.
NEW YORK
Ball dividend 10 cents; vote on directors fails
Ball Corp. declared a cash dividend of 10 cents a share at its annual meeting in New York Wednesday.
Also at the meeting, shareholders voted 55.3 percent in favor of a shareholder proposal that asks that directors stand for election annually rather than in staggered terms, said Ball spokesman Scott McCarty. However, a 75 percent approval was required to make the change.
DENVER
Average gas cost falls but still tops March
Colorado’s statewide average for regular, self-serve gasoline dropped 1.3 cents in the past week to $2.239 per gallon, AAA reported Wednesday in its online report, www.fuelgaugere port.com. Prices are still 6.3 cents higher than last month and 40 cents higher than last year.
Denver’s average also dropped 1.3 cents to $2.184.
WASHINGTON
Justices seem unlikely to jail Andersen execs
The Supreme Court appeared skeptical Wednesday of government attempts to jail former Arthur Andersen officials for their roles in shredding Enron-related documents in advance of the investigations that would ultimately lay waste to both firms.
The justices, appearing to be in rare unanimity during oral arguments, said the law at the time of the document shredding probably wouldn’t have prohibited it.
CINCINNATI
GE looks for growth in developing nations
Sixty percent of General Electric Co.’s growth in the next decade will come from developing countries, with revenue from China alone expected to top $5 billion in 2005, GE’s top executive said Wednesday at the company’s annual meeting.
The industrial, financial and media powerhouse has won 70 percent of China’s commitments for power turbine engines over the past two years along with a commitment from the country’s East-West Rail line for locomotive equipment, chief executive Jeff Immelt said.
HELSINKI, Finland
Nokia unveils devices; phone has Zeiss optics
Nokia Corp. unveiled a new line of pricey mobile devices, including a high-end camera phone with Carl Zeiss optics and a handset with enough music storage to potentially compete with the iPod.
The $900 N90 features a 2-megapixel camera with autofocus, 20x digital zoom, integrated flash, a special mode for sharp close-ups and on-phone video-editing capabilities.
DALLAS
Blockbuster CEO will resign if investors ask
Blockbuster Inc. chief executive John Antioco said he’ll resign if shareholders side with billionaire investor Carl Icahn’s efforts to unseat him from the board.
Antioco has led Dallas-based Blockbuster, the biggest U.S. video-rental chain, since 1997 and faces a May shareholder vote in which Icahn and two other nominees are seeking to oust current directors.
MINNEAPOLIS
Best Buy to expand with smaller stores
Best Buy Co. Inc. rolled out an expansion plan Wednesday that includes smaller stores, stand-alone Geek Squad computer service centers and its first stores in China.
The largest consumer electronics retailer in the United States also said it would triple the size of its share repurchases, from $500 million to $1.5 billion.
ELSEWHERE
Denver Health, Swift & Co., Tyco
Dr. Patricia A. Gabow, chief executive officer and medical director at Denver Health, was recognized as one of the top 25 women in health care in the April 18 issue of Modern Healthcare magazine. … Greeley-based beef producer Swift & Co. said John N. Simons, who resigned last week as chief executive, will be paid $2.25 million plus accrued salary. … Former Tyco International Ltd. chief L. Dennis Kozlowski took the witness stand Wednesday and denied he ever abused company loan programs or received a bonus to which he was not entitled.
