What is the world coming to? This next story of PSP theft is a true tearjerker. Kyle Springs, a seven year old cancer patient on his way to a chemotherapy appointment in Dallas gets his PSP stolen. Not only that, but his school homework, medicine, and medical records were also taken. Worst of all, it happened the day before his birthday. Tragic.
There is some good news, however. Officers from the Dallas Police Department presented Kyle with a new PSP, and also raised more than $1,000 to pay for the lost medication. The PSP was important to Kyle; his mother stated that videogames helped alleviate the pain her son's condition inflicted.
While Kyle's story is heartbreaking, it does raise some valid questions. Why is PSP theft seemingly on the rise? And most of all, is there really anything we can do to stop it?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
3-27-2008 @ 3:20PM
Richard said...
Well, we may just have to lower the conceal carry age limit I guess.
In all seriousness though and humor aside, people need to be aware of their actions in life. Not only was this boy robbed of his material goods, but he also may be robbed emotionally now too.
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3-27-2008 @ 3:22PM
dan said...
stealing something from a cancer patient...now thats just a new low.
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3-27-2008 @ 3:28PM
Macha88 said...
Grand Theft PSP: Douchebag Stories.
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3-27-2008 @ 3:30PM
Kane said...
That's just disgusting.
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3-27-2008 @ 3:33PM
Joe said...
This is done right low. How could any one steal some ones PSP yet alone some one with Cancer.
I am not trying to make light of this but may be if Sony lowered the price of the PSP more there would be less evil people in the world who steal people's PSPs.
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3-29-2008 @ 8:22PM
kyle said...
dude...lower it how much more its only 40 bucks more than the ds....thats not that much more expensive and thats for the core system.....kids now adays are just stupid
3-27-2008 @ 3:39PM
Kenneth said...
This is down right low. How could any one steal some ones PSP yet alone some one with Cancer.
I am not trying to make light of this but may be if Sony lowered the price of the PSP more there would be less evil people in the world who steal people's PSPs.
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3-27-2008 @ 3:41PM
Dan said...
To be honest its not that hard to raise awareness amongst the consumers about this. In fact Sony should be presenting to every new psp purchase some form of awareness to avoid having the system out in the open for everyone to view.
Especially parents should start making their kids aware of such a thing. Walking down the block with a new gadget out in the open is just plain dangerous now a days. This applies not only to the psp but to cell phones, gps, music players, and other games. But these corporate companies dont really care either way about, to them its another sale they'll rack when you repurchase the system.
Ever bought anything from an apple or nintendo store?? They gave you the only obvious bag that you got something worth stealing in that bag, and 9/10 times you do.. making you a walking target with that. Try walking through 116th street with a nintendo bag being pretty big, you'll definitely get a lot of on lookers for sure..
Engadget should do a piece about these recent rise on thefts in order to get the word out there that some kind of awareness needs to be started, whether by the media or the companies themselves.
Its not rocket science, its just common sense, but the sony, nintendo, nor apple will say anything, thats just how the business world works :-\
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3-27-2008 @ 4:06PM
Jeff said...
who ever did that crossed the line. if i saw that happend i would of chase down the person who did it. and to who ever would steal my PSP.
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3-27-2008 @ 4:10PM
Robobagins said...
I've had my PSP nearly stolen 3 times. Not fun. First time, the thief actually got it, but I was able to chase him down with the help of building security(okay he had my bookbag, but dang it he knew the PSP was in there). I've been apprehensive since then and it's stopped the rest of the would-be thieves.
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3-27-2008 @ 4:14PM
matt said...
Sony needs to put in a GPS tracker on the next firmware update. That way the cops can track down the @ssclowns who steal from children.
My favorite suggestion was putting C4 in the PSP and frag their butts!
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3-27-2008 @ 4:24PM
dude899 said...
now this is one of the reasons why kids carry guns now, to protect themselves and their things, not that I would carry one. Only if those people who steal psps had a higher education (seriously go to school people) they might have a better job for more money for a psp. Anyways in toronto right now theres a store that sells a used psp for like $129 and you can sell your psp as well for about $150 crazy but true
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3-27-2008 @ 4:25PM
PR said...
A theft also happend to me last week.
I was on a Montreal's metro, sitting next to the exit door and
listening to the music on my PSP (on my hands), so when the
door opened a m**** surprised me and took my PSP and ran
way. I hope someday this guy will rot into the prison.
And now my brand new PSP only stays at home. Shame...
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3-27-2008 @ 4:27PM
farfisa said...
The stuff was stolen from the car while the family ate breakfast, so yes the thieves are scumbags, but at least they didn't grab it from his hands and kick him in the leg (for example). While it's one thing to be robbed, it's worse to be mugged.
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3-27-2008 @ 5:04PM
jon1467 said...
that's really mean to steal someones psp, especially if they need it to help with pain and deppression. I think this is happening because psps are now getting really useful and popular so people want to steal and sell them. They only seem to be stolen in the US though, I haven't heard of any psp theft here in the UK.
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3-27-2008 @ 5:10PM
russdogg said...
its all because Sony got cheap and stopped shipping that little white wrist strap with the PSP. That thing has saved my PSP more times than I can count.
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4-03-2008 @ 5:07PM
RandomUser said...
*goes and steals wrist strap from Wiimote* ... Screw throwing the Wiimote through the tv- save the psp! XD
3-27-2008 @ 5:11PM
AUStin said...
this is sad but people really shouldn't carry their PSP's out in the open. Listne to music with it in your pcket it is one thing but playing in while walking down the steet is just stupid. You can't see a flipping thing while your playing..
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3-27-2008 @ 5:37PM
DomoBraden said...
Wow, God must really hate that kid. That's terrible, but at least he had it replaced and all. Still, that's not cool at all. And why the hell would they take his homework and medical records? Why was he even carrying his medical records, don't doctors usually hold on to those?
To answer you question on why PSP thefts are going up, I'd say it's the same reason as why the PSP's overall sales are going up. Do the math.
Also, just for the record, I've had FOUR Nintendo DS's stolen and one PSP....and I'm not the type to just leave those kinda things laying around. I wish my police department would replace it them for me, but we all know that will never happen...
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3-27-2008 @ 6:13PM
Sora267 said...
Maybe there's a street theft community of people who all think that PSPs look like black iPod Classics or iPod Touches or iPhones and therefore confuse them for those Apple products.
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