A 16-year-old boy was arrested Thursday, police said, for the alleged theft of three iPhones from TriMet passengers.

Sgt. Pete Simpson, a spokesman for the Portland Police Bureau, said the three robberies occurred on April 18, May 13 and May 17.

The boy was booked into the Donald E. Long Home on accusations of three counts of third degree robbery, two counts of second degree theft and one count of theft by receiving.

The boy was carrying an iPhone when he was arrested, but it was not one of three stolen phones, Simpson said.

Simpson said Transit Police Division officers are using surveillance video to investigate and prosecute people involved in the theft of iPhones, iPads and other electronic devices from TriMet passengers.

The Oregonian's commuter columnist, Joseph Rose, wrote about

Rose found that last year, a run of thefts fueled a 12-percent spike in serious crimes on Oregon's largest transit system. And officials blame the increasing popularity of iPhones, iPads, Androids and other high-tech mobile devices among commuters for fueling much of the increase.

Nearly 70 percent of the 496 reported serious, or "part one," crimes where thefts – 347 on trains, buses and platforms compared to 317 in 2010.

Meanwhile, since 2006 – the year before Apple's iPhone sparked a handheld electronics revolution – the number of reported thefts on TriMet has skyrocketed 65 percent, while ridership has increased 5 percent.

“Whether on transit, on a city sidewalk or in a park, this is a crime of opportunity that can be avoided by being vigilant,” Simpson said in a press release. “The Portland Police Bureau, Transit Police Division and TriMet encourage people to always be aware of their surroundings and not focus solely on their electronic device. Be attentive to the people nearby. Keep devices close to the body when using and stowed away when not in use.”