On gadget theft

A New York Times story on the rising incidence of gadget theft offers this useful tip:

A good option for cell phones and smart phones is coverage from the carriers, for about $5 a month on top of the service fee. Customers without insurance who need new phones are often surprised at what they cost. To sell service contracts, carriers offer phones at a sizable discount, but replacing them can cost hundreds of dollars.

The story also lists some services that can increase the chances of recovering stolen laptops -- only 3 percent are retrieved, according to the FBI -- and software that can keep thieves from getting at personal data stored on stolen devices.