The Apple smart phones, which can be quickly sold for cash, make for an attractive target to thieves. Stealing iPhones from the hands of their users and running away has been coined “Apple Picking.” 

Last year, several iPhone theft stories made national headlines, including one from New York City, where a phone was stolen twice within hours. A thief “picked” it from a female at a park. The same phone was later stolen by another thief. The owner of the phone and the person who stole it from her both reported the theft to the police.

“Please be advised to take extra precautions when using your iPhone. Be aware that displaying your iPhone is the same as displaying cash to a thief, so keep your iPhone out of sight when not using it,” the Dearborn Police Department said in a statement. “Be aware of your surroundings, before using your iPhone to text, make a phone call, etc. If you notice any suspicious activity, please do not hesitate to call the Dearborn Police Department’s Suspicious Activity line at 313.943.3030.”

The department also advised residents to download “Find My iPhone,” a free app that tracks an iPhone’s location, in the case that it is stolen.

“If your phone is stolen, do not use the app to try to recover it yourself. Immediately call the Dearborn Police Department, who will assist you,” the statement concluded.