CNN Anchor Robbed Of iPhone By Teenagers In Atlanta; Mugged By "Apple Picking" [VIDEO]

Carol Costello, a CNN anchor, was robbed in Atlanta when three teenagers grabbed her iPhone - an act now termed "Apple Picking."

The "CNN Newsroom" host revealed she was mugged Thursday in Atlanta, the location of the network's worldwide headquarters. She was talking on her iPhone when her cell was snatched.

Costello claims she was the victim of what police are now coining "apple picking." She says on Facebook:

"Good Morning. In retrospect, what happened to me yesterday is insignificant in light of what happened in the Boston. Still, I feel the need to vent. And isn't that what friends are for? I was robbed. And I am angry.

I was walking down a beautiful, leafy Atlanta street, talking on my IPhone. Guess what happened next? Three teenagers ran up behind me. One of them grabbed my IPhone. Stupidly I struggled to hold on-to it. But, he was a big guy. And he pulled out a chunk my hair. I let go. As he ran down the street, laughing, I hurled a few expletives his way. I felt no fear at the time, I was just angry. Now I'm angry, shaken and sad. What a lousy life those kids have ahead of them."

"According to ABC news, cities across the country are on alert as officials warn of an uptick in stolen Apple products, dubbed 'Apple picking.' Thieves steal IPhones, wipe them clean, then sell them for up to one-thousand bucks."

"So, a warning for you. Do not talk on your IPhone as you walk down the street. Oh, and let go of the stupid device if someone tries to steal it. Hope you join me at 9 and 10 AM ES."

No arrests have been made at this time. She described one of the robbers as a black male with dark skin, around 5 feet 8 inches tall. He is skinny with black, curly hair. The teen was wearing a light gray or light blue sweatshirt with thin dark blue stripes at the time.

The incident sheds light on the growing criminal activity labeled "apple picking." Criminals have been stealing iPhones for years, grabbing them from your pocket or your bag. But now they're taking it to a new level, stealing them right from your hands as you're on the phone.

Here's why: When you're on the phone, you're in your own little world, not paying attention. And the criminals are counting on it. They often sneak up from behind you; the snatch is very quick and very fluid.

A self-proclaimed iPhone thief spilled his secrets to WNBC in New York, saying he's turning a new leaf. In creepy detail, he described his strategies:

"As horrible as it may sound, I tend to look for women -- the older the better, generally," he said. "If I think that you can't catch me, I'm going for you."

He says most of us are easy targets constantly texting, talking, and being oblivious to what's going on. He says he's swiped iPhones from tables in coffee shops, even public bathrooms.

His favorite time of day for Apple picking was "after people got out of work," the thief revealed. "The more people were around, the more you blend into the crowd. They drop their guard; they just simply drop their guard."

iPhone theft is also scary because of identity theft. If a thief steals your phone while you're on it, they don't need your password to get in; you're already in the system. Now they have access to your email, your personal photos, videos, contacts, everything. They can even reset your password.

If your phone is stolen, call the police and then your wireless carrier immediately and tell them to shut it down.