Thefts on New York City subways are up this year, thanks in large part to the swiping of smart phones, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

NYPD statistics show that 311 grand larcenies have happened on the subway since the beginning of 2011, a hike of 17.8 percent compared to the same period in 2010, the report said.

Raymond Diaz, chief of the New York City Police Department’s transit bureau, said thieves are targeting riders who display smart phones, especially the Apple iPhone 4.

“We’ve been seeing an incredible trend of young people snatching those cellphones,” Diaz told MTA board members.

(Source: MyFoxNY)