Hang around Seattle long enough, and someone will likely share this rather counterintuitive factoid with you: The Emerald City sells more sunglasses per capita than any other major city in the U.S. The reason, at least as I’ve heard it, is that Seattle residents have a higher likelihood of losing their shades during all of the gray days.
Now, we can add another accoutrement to the lineup of things Seattleites lose: Cell phones.
This time, however, I am not sure it has to do with the rain.
According to a study by mobile security company Lookout, Seattle ranks second in terms of mobile phone loss. And it’s not like this rain-soaked corner of the world is in very good company.
The report notes that four of the other cities that ranked high for lost phones — Cleveland, Detroit, Oakland and Newark — also ranked in the top 10 cities for highest crime rates in the U.S.
So, is it crime? Or, are Seattleites just a forgetful people?
You’d think with all of the coffee people drink around here they’d be a little more alert. However, the study of more 15 million Lookout users found that the coffee shop was the number one spot where Americans tend to lose their cell phones. Mystery solved, right?
Wrong. Interestingly, in Seattle, fast food restaurants were the most likely locale for a lost cell phone, followed by gas stations and grocery stores).
Here are the top 10 cities for lost cell phones, according to Lookout.
1. Philadelphia
2. Seattle
3. Oakland
4. Long Beach
5. Newark
6. Detroit
7. Cleveland
8. Baltimore
9. New York
10. Boston
Previously on GeekWire: Lost your phone? Chances are someone is picking through your personal information
