The nation's capital, and everywhere its trains go, has an iPad problem. More precisely, it has an iPadproblem.In fact, tourists and residents of Washington and its sprawling suburbs in Virginia and Maryland who use the Metro train system have had not only iPads snatched from their hands but also iPhones, Kindles, Android phones and just about anything else electronic.And the problem is getting worse, not just in Washington but on trains and stations in many parts of the world.Metro Transit Police Chief Ron Pavlik has urged riders to be cautious when using electronic devices on Metro due to a recent spike in thefts like the one shown in the video with this story.Metro recorded a 48 percent increase in thefts during a two-week period ending Aug. 7 compared to the previous two weeks. During the most recent reporting period, there were 40 reported snatches of electronic devices."We are not waiting to see if this becomes a trend," Chief Pavlik said in a news release. "We are taking immediate, proactive steps to protect the riding public, but we also need riders to do their part."

The Oregonian reports that when Apple debuts a new iPhone model, for example, New York City police said they see a spike in subway thefts. San Francisco unveiled "be smart with your smartphone" posters on city buses.