SAN FRANCISCO -- San Francisco police say thieves are now targeting people with laptops and other small electronics in many neighborhoods throughout the city. The thefts have involved laptops, cell phones, I-pods and I-phones stolen in very public places, such as cafes, buses and bus stops.

Police say the thieves carry out the thefts much like a purse snatching. They say the victims are often distracted while using their phones and laptops.

"People walk around with these devices kind of advertising what they have. The bad guys take advantage of it." said Lt. William Canning of the San Francisco Police Department. "They're real valuable, they're popular, they're easy to get rid of."

One such robbery took place at Cafe Petra in the Mission district about two weeks ago. A woman was sitting in the cafe when three men stormed inside grabbed her laptop and ran. Police say that theft was one of at least seven during that particular week.

Nearby at Revolution Cafe, Systems Analyst Eugene De Fikh said he uses his laptop in public places every day. He admits he's often careless. "I would go get coffee and leave it out here and just ask my friends to watch over it. And a lot of times they would, but I realize that's not safe at all."

Police say another brazen incident took place right outside the Apple store in Union Square after a couple bought a new I-phone. Lt. Canning described the robbery. "The wife said 'Hey put that away. Somebody will take it away from you.' He kind of laughed at her. Sure enough some guy walked up behind him, snatched it and took off running."

So far this year, police said 56 laptops, 100 I-pods, 37 cell phones and 122 other devices have been reported stolen.

People often use their electronics while on the street. Minerva Walston observed, "I feel like when people are on the cell phone, they don't pay attention to their surroundings. So it's important that when you're one the phone, make sure of where you're at and who's around you. If you have somebody behind you."

Police caution that you should always be aware of your surroundings and suggest that owners of laptops invest in one of those tracking systems that cost about $50 a year. That's a lot less than a new computer.