Robberies on the Metro are nothing new, but the way one group of thieves rips people off now has the attention of police.

One theft occurred on the platform at the Brookland Metro station in Northeast. The trouble began when a couple of teenage boys starting running...that's when Sherri Joyner says she heard a commuter yelling.

"Hearing him shout and looking very upset angry as well. You knew exactly what was going on. I saw the two kids barrel down the escalator," said Joyner.

The thieves target she says was the man's iPod.

In response to thefts, D.C. police plan to give the Brookland Metro station special attention around rush hours. Across the city, Metro says they've been urging commuters to turn down the volume, be alert, and warning against wearing the traditional white iPod earphones.

"They say the big tip off is the white earphones so I got pink ones," said one woman.

Last year 61 iPods and similar digital music players were stolen at Metro stations across the rail system. Much like iPod's popularity those numbers aren't likely decrease unless commuters tune in.

"It's kinda scary, I've gotta be more careful now," said one man. "It's made me more aware, just as easily as they snatched his iPod, that I could've been my purse," said Joyner.

Email To A Friend