The observations made on the black market said that iPhones seemed to be worth way more than Android phones if stolen.

Most thieves aren't experts and know every phone like the back of their hand. They might not get that a Galaxy S23 Ultra could be just as valuable as an iPhone.

When people do bad things and steal phones, they think in simple ways - either an iPhone or it ain't worth the risk of getting in trouble with the cops.

This helps make sense of what went down in Washington, D.C., last month.

One morning, a guy's wife was waiting outside their apartment while he parked the truck. But as he pulled up, two masked men - one on foot and one in a BMW - came at him with a gun. They took his stuff and snatched his wife's car keys before zooming into the night.

Thieves Didn't Want the Android Phone They Stole

The woman was surprised by the audacity of the thieves who took her husband's phone but returned it because they preferred another type.

According to a news story, she said they essentially glanced at the phone and said, "Oh, that's an Android? We don't want this. I thought it was an iPhone."

The incident, although brief, had a significant impact on her life, completely disrupting it. She explained that the phone and how they earned money were essential to them. The man used it for Uber Eats and Instacart, making it their primary source of income.

At the same time as this life-changing event, there was a public hearing in D.C. discussing the increase in crime rates and Mayor Muriel Bowser's proposed bill, "Addressing Crime Trends Now" (ACT Now).

Despite the attention-grabbing crimes, D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith pointed out some positive trends since July. She stated that carjacking crimes have decreased by 7% and assault with a dangerous weapon is down by 6%. Also, she added that vehicle theft has already reduced by 11%.

To add it all up, indexed violent crime has decreased by three crimes, but robbery has dramatically increased by 14 offenses compared to the same period in 2023.

People tend to Like iPhones More than Android Phones

The choice between iPhones and Android phones is often based on a belief that one is better that the other, even though both can do similar things for the price.

This idea lifts iPhones up, making them worth more later than Android devices. This belief might make clear why they returned the phone.

The feeling that iPhones are naturally better toys may have guided their call, as how folks often see iPhones and what it means to have one may have made the Android phone less fun.

This prejudice shows us how what buyers think and what folks do can impact even bad decisions, where liking a brand over another can change what you do, as you saw in how they dismissed the Android phone for an iPhone.