Apple Patents Mechanism to Prevent Theives From Recharging Your iPhone/iPod

Apple's answer to the widespread thievery of iPods; a mechanism which would not allow any unauthorized user to charge the iPod. This essentially could be applied to the iPhone as well.

Although the iPhone needs a service plan to be fully functional as a phone, this could cut down on people trying to resell stolen iPhones. If thieves know that this mechanism exists then they would be less likely to steal the phone in the first place.

Details of just how this mechanism could work is outlined here in the patent itself: United States Patent Application: 0070138999

This solution seems like it would be the best of both worlds. People would not worry about apple knowing too much about them, thieves would be left with useless devices, and by not as many devices being stolen, apple would not have to spend as much money tracking down lost iPhones/iPods.

Unfortunately this probably won't be seen until next generation iPods/iPhones as I doubt the mechanism is already built in to the recharge circuits, but I'm no expert, perhaps Apple thought ahead on this one.

What do you think?