So, I got mugged

EN

Yesterday it supposes to be an every normal Saturday like always except the part my phone being stolen.
And since my phone is stored inside this case which holds my cards like bankcard and ID and housekey makes this robbery a perfection of complete misfortune.

Mugged for the first time.

Let me write down this whole situation because I need to get a bit off my chest.

I was with my brother and dad at our usual Saturday café for coffee/tea and a snack (I picked a cream mushroom soup) and while we sat down this woman came inside the café, walked over to our table and starts begging and pointing for food in a strange foreign language (talking about nerves). I think it was French because she kept saying ‘manger’ which means ‘food’ in French.

But here’s the scam starts. This woman also placed a white piece of paper with the word ‘FOOD’ or something on it because I couldn’t read it properly and placed it over my phone. Meanwhile this woman kept begging and distracting whilst I kept saying “no, thanks” to her. The woman gave up eventually, picked up that piece of paper with my phone under it and walked away. She even goodbye waved at me ironically while she was at the door.

I feel like the dumbest shit ever.

And I noticed it after a full 10 minutes when my phone was missing.

I started to frinkin’ panic and praying and hoping that my phone was tucked safely inside my pocket but deep down I knew it was gone. And that she took it 100%. I’ve reported at the café staff and the supervisor came along. I immediately blocked all my cards, SIM card, report IMEI number and phone data, changed all my passwords and filled a police report.

I also tried calling my phone but of course it was and still is off.
Tracking my phone with Android and Google didn’t work as I also didn’t download any specific tracking app on it. I’m really slapping myself for not downloading it. Many tears streamed down my face yesterday.

Right now I’m not hoping anything because I don’t think I’ll ever see any of my belongings back. I know many other people have lost a lot

 bigger or irreplaceable stuff but this whole situation really shattered me.


I guess next week will be a coffee and a phone free week. I've also made a quick sketch of my mugger below:
NL

Gisteren zou het een gewone zaterdag moeten zijn zoals altijd, behalve dat mijn telefoon gestolen is.
En aangezien mijn telefoon in dit oh-zo handige hoesje zit waar ik ook mijn pasjes zoals bankpas en ID en huissleutel in bewaar, maakt het deze overval helemaal compleet.

Beroofd voor de eerste keer.
Laat me deze hele situatie omschrijven voor je, want ik wil graag mn ei kwijt.

Samen met papa en broer zaten we in onze gebruikelijke brasserie voor koffie/thee en een hapje (ik had champignonsoep) en toen we aan tafel zaten kwam deze vrouw binnengelopen, liep naar onze tafel en begon te bedelen en te wijzen voor eten in een vreemd buitenlandse taal. Ik denk dat het Frans is omdat ze bleef zeggen 'manger', wat ‘eten’ betekent in het Frans.

Maar nu komt het. Deze vrouw had ook een wit stuk papier met het woord 'FOOD' of iets dergelijks opschreven en plaatste onopgemerkt over mijn telefoon heen. Ondertussen bleef deze vrouw in vreemde taal uitkramen en natuurlijk mij afleiden. Ik bleef “no, thanks” tegen haar zeggen en op het gegeven moment gaf ze het op en pakte het stuk papier met mijn telefoon onder en liep weg. Ze zwaaide zelfs nog me.

Ik voelde me echt de domste pannenkoek ooit.

En ik merkte het pas na ruim 10 minuten dat mijn telefoon foetsie is.

Ik begon in paniek te raken en bad en hoopte dat mijn telefoon veilig in mijn broekzak verscholen zat maar diep van binnen wist ik veel beter. Dankzij dit raar vrouwtje. Ik moest helder nadenken en heb het gemeld bij het café personeel. Daarna mijn bankpas en SIM-kaart geblokkeerd, IMEI nummer opgegeven, mijn wachtwoorden veranderd en deed een online politie aangifte.

Ik heb ook geprobeerd mijn telefoon te bereiken door te bellen, maar natuurlijk stond deze uit.
Het traceren van mijn telefoon met behulp van Android en Google werkte helaas ook niet en daarnaast heb ik geen traceer app gedownload. Spijt hebben als haren op mn hoofd kun je wel zeggen! Er vloeide inderdaad tranen over mijn wangen gisteren.

Op dit moment hoop ik op niks, want ik denk niet dat ik ooit een van mijn spullen terug zal zien. Ik ben er ook bewust van dat andere mensen een veel grotere of zelfs onvervangbare spullen verloren/gestolen zijn, maar deze hele situatie heeft me zeker van mn stokje gebracht.

Ik denk dat volgende week naast een koffieloze week ook een telefoonloze week gaat worden.
Ik heb trouwens een snelle schets van mn dief gemaakt hieronder:


Not 100% picture perfect comparing but this is how I remember her: mint/greenish hoodie, dark brown hair, short, not very skinny but also not overly heavy, acne and spotted face and a untidy appearance. 

Comments

  1. her skill seems very pro, next time need to be more alert already, cannot put phone on the table, need always in pocket or bag when no needed....

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  2. So sorry to hear about your phone :( There was one time where someone stole a customer's phone because she had it on the table, and the mugger dropped some coins near her table and asked if she could pick up the ones near her. When she bent down to get them, he snatched her phone and ran out the door. One of my coworkers got his phone stolen too, he left it behind the front counter and some guy just reached over and grabbed it. Fortunately he had insurance on it (it's only 5$-10$/m here) so he was able to get a brand new one.

    I don't know what to say in this situation. It would help to get a tracking app but the problem is that it needs gps/location turned on to work and that drains battery life really quickly. It's so weird how we're so reliant on our phones these days - it's not only for entertainment, but for keeping updated on things like the news and the weather, having lists, alarms, etc. I hope you'll be able to get a replacement phone soon, and I hope none of your information got stolen either - smart move to change all your passwords and block all your bank cards asap!

    becky ♡ star violet

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  3. Oh no! How did the cafe let such a seemingly bedraggled person linger around for so long bugging their customers? I guess at least you still have your laptop, although I'm not sure how reassuring that is :( I wish I could do something to help! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey's

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  4. I am sorry to hear you got mugged :[
    People just need to keep their hands of off stuff that isn't theirs! Good think you blocked all your cards etc.. Now hopefully they can't do anything with your phone/cards.

    I hope you are doing okay though :]

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  5. Oops zie mijn comment niet meer dus zal het even weer typen (sorry als er twee comments van mij zijn:P):

    echt erg dat je telefoon (en passen,etc.!) zijn gestolen :(( vind het rot voor je!!
    Je tekening is wel een creative reactie van je :) that idiot :@
    mr iig: what goes around comes around!

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  6. Oh no :( Sorry to hear about your phone! My house got broken into, so I know how you must feel. Thankfully you are safe and it wasn't a completely dangerous situation. I hope you will feel better soon.

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  7. ohhhh wat vervelend!!!! Enorm balen, maar ja op dat moment heb je het niet door....en dat soort mensen zijn echt gewiekst hoor...sjonge jonge! Goed dat je erover blogt en hopelijk zal het iemand anders helpen met dit soort diefstal trucs.

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  8. There are some low life creatures on this earth... Im sorry to hear you got your belongings stolen ><, I know they say 'at least no one got hurt'! I strongly believe in karma! and she'll get whats coming to her! keep smiling <3

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  9. !! so sorry to hear about this, love :( crossing my fingers you get everything back !!! <3

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  10. Wat erg zeg :( Je hoeft jezelf echt niet dom te voelen hoor, je mag gerust boos en verdrietig zijn. Jij hebt niets verkeerds gedaan, maar de vrouw in kwestie daarentegen... Iets vergelijkbaars is me een paar jaar geleden overkomen, iPhone uit mijn tas gegrabbeld in Belgie. Ik kwam er pas wat later achter, toen we op het punt stonden om de trein naar NL te nemen. Heel wat tranen heb ik erom gelaten en het was een zeer dure grap. De iPhone heb ik nooit meer teruggezien en mijn tas heb ik omgeruild voor een exemplaar met heel veel ritsen. Veel sterkte en ik hoop dat ze de Franstalige oliebol oppakken! *virtuele hug voor jou*

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  11. Oh no!! I'm so sorry to hear this! I hope you're okay <3 xxx

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  12. People are so rude. I'm not sure how anyone can consciously beg for the help of others whilst stealing or doing unkind things to that person at the same time!! So sorry about this event! It's horrible, and I hope things straighten out for you soon. You're right though, at least it is something replaceable. <3 Lots of hugs and kind, positive thoughts your way. Wishing for your week to go better.

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  13. Oh no! I am so sorry to hear about your phone :( That is so upsetting!

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  14. That's absolutely terrible. I dropped my own phone, it still worked and I still felt terrible. But think about it this way. There's no regretting your actions in the past. File the police reports, restore/protect your information, take a big breath and try to stop worrying.

    7% Solution

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  15. Oh,no!!That is a very scary case...
    I hope that you get well early.

    akiko

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  16. Pfffff this sucks so bad! I totally know how you feel. My phone was stolen 2 years ago at Vero Moda >.< The trick she used is so sneaky. My friend told me they do this in Spain a lot, but I guess it has reached The Netherlands too -_________-" Just don't understand why people can't work hard for their own stuff and keep their hands off other's. Thank goodness you guys are okay tho'. And no worries, karma will get her back :)

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  17. omgosh i hope you are ok i'm so sorry to hear this!! xxx much love!!!

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  18. Oh no Mei! This is SO horrible. People can be so horrible and it sounds like this person does it often. It's good that you at least are putting the information out there and hopefully the person gets caught and it does not happen again, it's just not right.

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  19. Ahh no I'm sorry to hear that :( Hope you somehow are able to get your things back!

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  20. I'm so sorry this happened. It's truly upsetting, even to hear second hand, let alone it actually happened to you. :(

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  21. Omg. So sorry that this happened to you.
    but you did a good job cancelling everything as soon as possible.

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  22. Aww.. I'm sorry to hear this happened to you. I've never had anything stolen before, but if I did, I'm sure I would start to panic on the spot. At least you noticed your phone was missing in time to cancel your cards.

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  23. This is a really horrible situation and I'm sorry you had to experience it, especially since you actually spoke to the person. Hopefully everything will be settled and back to normal in no time!

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  24. Oh no that must be so frustrating when you think back to how it happened. It makes you think doesn't it? I usually leave my phone out on the table and never think twice about someone coming over to steal it - but as you've proved, it can definitely happen. It sounds very unlucky that you had your bank cards inside. That's terrible, I'm so sorry that this happened to you and I hope it didn't cause you too much stress :(

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  25. AWWW Damn. Sorry to hear! I've heard about these scams and thefts quite often happening in europe! I'm glad you realized quickly at least and made sure all your things were blocked/cancelled. I totally get what you mean by 'off your chest'. I had something nasty happen to me some weeks ago in public with someone being indecent towards me thinking I wasn't going to say or do anything. I'm sure you'll be more careful now but don't feel stupid, these people are out to get things regardless of how smart or cautious you are.

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  26. So sorry to hear this :(

    http://japobsganbare.blogspot.com/

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  27. Oh no.. so sorry that this happened. I had my phone and my wallet stolen at two different times - taken right from my pocket and it's such a horrible feeling. I was hard on myself too because I felt like I could've done something or been a bit more careful but please don't be so hard on yourself. Hope you feel better soon xx

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  28. Oh Mei!!! So so so sorry to hear this!!! :S :S I also had a similar incident last summer when a pickpocket stole my purse from my chair. He was playing also the goofy tourist trap as in your case, and he lifted it from my chair. When I noticed (also a few minutes too late) I felt stupid, couldn't help it but cry because I was so sad that someone had that personal piece of my life with him, all the pictures and my keepsakes that I store in the purse. I also didn't have the tracking activated because the phone was so new and I guess being my first time with smartphones I was playing it too naïf :S On the next days I had horrible dreams, so my advice is to try to forget about it, it was not your fault at all, it would have happened anyways, and it's her who should be having those bad dreams. Big hug girl!

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  29. That's horrible! My dad got mugged in China, he had his phone stolen, and my mom had her wallet stolen in New York before.

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  30. Sorry to hear about this unpleasant experience! Just be glad that she didn't harm you; it could have been worse.

    www.LUXESSED.com

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  31. That is shitty. I also got mugged whilst I was traveling, I tell you, that was a stress with calling all my banks to block my cards and I had to go to the embassy to get a temporary passport and such...
    But, good thing: I definitely learned from that to never have all my important items in one case..

    -Kati

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  32. Oh Mei :c I'm so sorry to hear that happened to you, that woman seems like she knows what she's doing. I'm just glad that you had your family with you and you were unharmed. It sucks to lose your phone and all your cards but it can all be replaced! Sending love your way.

    Chloé⎪ status.chlo

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  33. Ugh I'm so sorry my dear! I'm glad you're okay but that stinks

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