To the Scumbag Who Robbed My Phone

Dublinmuppet

Okay the title is a lie. It was actually my sons phone. I'm not looking to start a GofundMe page or look to send my family to Disney. Friday afternoon at about 4.30 you grabbed my sons phone out of my hand. I suppose one or two of you are wondering why I have my sons phone but to encourage studying I take the PlayStation and Xbox controllers and hide them in my car. My son is fully on board with this and gets me to take his Samsung Galaxy 6 phone as well because sometimes Games as well as Instagram and Snapchat can distract him. I have lost my confidence and nerve now because of you. Who brought you up to cycle up beside 41 year old women and wrestle phones out of your hand. I love walking and dare I say it playing Pokemon Go but I'm afraid now. I thought nothing of going out walking at 6am in the morning but now I'm hiding In my house. Thanks for nothing Scumbag

Jack the Stripper

Was the galaxy 6 the one that catches on fire?

Dublinmuppet

No it's the one that hopefully makes the robber go under a 40 foot truck.

JackTaylorFan

It used to be they only snatched your handbag - what is this world coming to?

Samuel T. Cogley

Don't hide, **** happens. I'm sorry to hear it happened in this case.

A couple of points though, just got an M8s, have yet to find anything it'll not do that a top end phone won't, much less nickable. Secondly be aware of your surroundings, I'm a fat 6'2" man and I can be on the shoulder of 98% of people in Dublin. It's not until I say 'excuse me please' and they jump out of their skin that they even know I'm there.

Dublinmuppet

Well he try that but my bad I happened to have the phone in my hand

Junkyard Tom

Do you remember that fella who had his kidney robbed while he was queueing for a kebab?

JackTaylorFan

On a serious note: I grew up in a rough estate where kids did this kinda stuff (same thing on bikes - snatching women's bags) - to say they were "brought up" is stretching it, a looooooot. Sorry to hear of your ordeal, but like someone said, don't let it make you live in fear. Where I live, I have had threats of violence for simply walking down the street - it's hard when you feel unsafe, but what happened to you is most likely a once off - don't let it own you.

Dublinmuppet

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Do you remember that fella who had his kidney robbed while he was queueing for a kebab?

No i remembered the 41 year old mother of 2 walking home getting robbed

Del2005

Dublinmuppet wrote: »

Well he try that but my bad I happened to have the phone in my hand

Opertuneist thieves work this way. My sister saw a person getting their phone taken while standing waiting to cross the road.

This is why you are advised to only use your phone while stopped with something solid behind you. Walking with the phone out is like chumping the sea for sharks and then complaining about sharks.

RobertKK

Last year in Switzerland, I left my iPhone 7 plus on a train, only had it a couple of months and realised when I got off I had made a huge blunder, I was heading in the opposition direction to where the train was going.
So I had to get a train to chase my phone, landed at the next main train station, went to the ticket office, told the woman behind the counter what happened, she went and got my phone, handed it to me, rearranged my train travel and told me to enjoy the city I was in for an hour before getting the train. I thought I would never see it again.
Sometimes incidents happen that may make one lose faith in the human race, other times one is reminded of the goodness in the other humans, so something bad happened to you OP, you can't let it dictate things.

B.A._Baracus

A lot of scumbags around sadly. Smart phones are a wet dream for them these days.

I was in one of the Chinese Phone Unlocking shops on Moore Street (Dublin) last year and a junkie skanger comes in and asks about fixing "his" iPhone. Went on to say that he "forgot" his unlock screen password. Chinese lad knew the score and firmly said no. Reckon it's a daily occurrence for him.


That said I wouldn't be surprised to hear other shops would do it for him.

Junkyard Tom

Dublinmuppet wrote: »

No i remembered the 41 year old mother of 2 walking home getting robbed

I probably shouldn't have wrote that dumb post. It's no joke being a victim of crime. My apologies.

Dublinmuppet

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

I probably shouldn't have wrote that dumb post. It's no joke being a victim of crime. My apologies.

Actually I have to apologise I'm really 42. In denial about my age.

Dublinmuppet

Del2005 wrote: »

Opertuneist thieves work this way. My sister saw a person getting their phone taken while standing waiting to cross the road.

This is why you are advised to only use your phone while stopped with something solid behind you. Walking with the phone out is like chumping the sea for sharks and then complaining about sharks.

I know I feel a right idiot. I'm working around OConnell St years and I reckon I've seen it all. I know the rules about phones out in public but there is an element that it won't happen to me. Just feel vulnerable and a muppet at the moment

Losty Dublin

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Do you remember that fella who had his kidney robbed while he was queueing for a kebab?

That's renally awful.

TireeTerror

Best thing to do is move away from Dublin, its an absolute kip of a place full of robbing dirty scum. Loads of lovely people too of course, but big cities are unsafe.

Mongfinder General

TireeTerror wrote: »

Best thing to do is move away from Dublin, its an absolute kip of a place full of robbing dirty scum. Loads of lovely people too of course, but big cities are unsafe.

I reckon at some point we'll see some random vigilante take the law into his/her own hands and just start targeting random scumbags. Not quite Batman but you get the idea

demanufactured

Mongfinder General wrote: »

I reckon at some point we'll see some random vigilante take the law into his/her own hands and just start targeting random scumbags. Not quite Batman but you get the idea

His name is Oliver Queen

JackTaylorFan

Mongfinder General wrote: »

I reckon at some point we'll see some random vigilante take the law into his/her own hands and just start targeting random scumbags. Not quite Batman but you get the idea

like those guys who dressed in spandex and patrolled the streets of cities like San Francisco. I can't imagine the skangers being terrified at that prospect

JackTaylorFan

demanufactured wrote: »

His name is Oliver Queen

His name is Mr Extreme!!

http://reallifesuperheroes.com/2011/12/15/mr-xtreme/

freshpopcorn

I'd love if they invented a phone that you could get to explode or if a dye pack went of on the phone if it was stolen.
Sorry to hear about your situation OP.
I myself think muggings similar to this really turn people off going out shopping in Dublin city center and them heading to the out of town centers. I know now you can get mugged anywhere but I always feel safer and more relaxed in a shopping center.

Samuel T. Cogley

TireeTerror wrote: »

Best thing to do is move away from Dublin, its an absolute kip of a place full of robbing dirty scum. Loads of lovely people too of course, but big cities are unsafe.

So nice being out in the country miles from anywhere... take the guards ages to arrive, that's if anyone even notices you've not been heard from for a few days.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Dublinmuppet wrote: »

No i remembered the 41 year old mother of 2 walking home getting robbed

What's your reproduction status got to do with being robbed?

Outlaw Pete

scoey

Shame but the fact is Dublin has been a dump for decades and unfortunately there is seemingly no will among the population for a harder line on "small time" crime like muggings or the drug "victims" behind a lot of such crime.

If you live in Dublin you just have to get used to the possibility of having a run in with some scummer while going about your business.
Consider yourself lucky you made it to 42 without having to deal with that. You must be from a nicer area of Dublin than me.

Many people have such an experience at some stage and when it comes down to it, beyond the empty words of sympathy for a mugging victim etc most Dubliners seem to treat small scale crime and thuggery with an "ah sure, that's life" attitude.

I don't know if the lack of will to tackle criminality and junkies is reflective of the actual opinions of the majority or simply a loud and disproportionately influential minority. The type of people who dedicate their lives to crying about the hard lives of underprivelaged criminals can shout a lot louder than the average person trying to go about their life without feeling unsafe on the streets.

If the people are ever presented with any way of choosing a harder line on criminality it will be interesting to see what happens.

Del2005

TireeTerror wrote: »

Best thing to do is move away from Dublin, its an absolute kip of a place full of robbing dirty scum. Loads of lovely people too of course, but big cities are unsafe.

Good job there is no crime in rural areas.

Del2005

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I'd love if they invented a phone that you could get to explode.

They did, the Note 7

Graces7

Samuel T. Cogley wrote: »

So nice being out in the country miles from anywhere... take the guards ages to arrive, that's if anyone even notices you've not been heard from for a few days.

Made me smile! I am way out here again and have a good alarm system. If my family in Canada do not get a call , after two days they raise the alarm. Works great. The last place the postlady would sound her horn if I had left mail out

Graces7

Why though do so many walk around phone in hand? Water bottle in the other hand in summer, coffee cup in winter....

OP, hope you get it back...

scoey

Graces7 wrote: »

Why though do so many walk around phone in hand? Water bottle in the other hand in summer, coffee cup in winter....

OP, hope you get it back...

Victim blaming?
People should have an expectation of personal safety when using their phone on the streets.
Says it all about the low level crime situation on Dublin streets that so many believe on some level the victim is to blame for making themselves a target by having the audacity to use their belongings outside.

Graces7

scoey wrote: »

Victim blaming?
People should have an expection of personal safety when using their phone on the streets.
Says it all about the low level crime situation on Dublin streets that so many believe on some level the victim is to blame for making themselves a target by having the audacity to use their belongings outside.

er NO WAY. I was simply wondering is all. Gee! You are sensitive today!

It was a simple question is all!

Only one person t blame here and that is the thief. Cannot the phone be traced or is that just in US thrillers?

I see this a lot, phones in hands and wonder if folk do not have pockets any more!

And I agree totally with what I have bolded. We have to take extreme measures to keep stuff safe. Seen a lot of signs outside graveyards warning not to leave valuables in their cars as there have been thefts when funerals are taking place . Low life....

And sadly this is clearly the reality we are living with.

scoey

Graces7 wrote: »

scoey wrote: »

Victim blaming?
People should have an expection of personal safety when using their phone on the streets.
Says it all about the low level crime situation on Dublin streets that so many believe on some level the victim is to blame for making themselves a target by having the audacity to use their belongings outside.

er NO WAY. I was simply wondering is all. Gee! You are sensitive today!

Not at all. I was just commenting on it as it is a reaction that I have seen many times over the years in Dublin.
"Don't use white earphones"
"Why didn't you keep your eyes on your bag for the ten seconds in which it was robbed"
"Why did you bring your bike into town anyway"
"Why did you go down such and such street anyway"

I'm just saying it's a sorry state of affairs that this is the way things are in Dublin (and many other places I'm sure).

I guess personal vigilance and keeping your head down in public so as not to attract the attention of criminals is required when you have a police force who have little visible presence outside of a select few spots in terms of on foot patrols and who act like the fire brigade and sit in the station or their cars until called to come and put out a fire.

Graces7

scoey wrote: »

Not at all. I was just commenting on it as it is a reaction that I have seen many times over the years in Dublin.
"Don't use white earphones"
"Why didn't you keep your eyes on your bag for the ten seconds in which it was robbed"
"Why did you bring your bike into town anyway"
"Why did you go down such and such street anyway"

I'm just saying it's a sorry state of affairs that this is the state of affairs in Dublin.

I guess personal vigilance and keeping your head down in public so as not to attract the attention of criminals is required what you have a police force who act like the fire brigade and sit in the station or their cars until called to come and put out a fire.

As a mere country bumpkin who hates cities and even large towns this is all alien to me. thankfully.

I "even" sometimes leave the car unlocked on LIDL car park locally :eek:

Was in Dublin once as I landed there when I came to Ireland many years ago. Has no attraction for me.

Reading eg "Oliver Twist" and the gangs of highly trained young pickpockets there, I guess things have not changed that much sadly .

And I have few if any gripes re the Gardai either, which is again a different matter in rural areas.

But is there really so much "victim blaming"?
A totally new phrase to me; never heard it before today.. Sad, really sad,

That is inexcusable,it really is. Glad we have boards.ie.

Dublinmuppet

LexieOnRale wrote: »

What's your reproduction status got to do with being robbed?

Absolutely nothing but I'm so glad I didn't reproduce you.

dieselbug

Dublinmuppet wrote: »

Absolutely nothing but I'm so glad I didn't reproduce you.

Ha ha, what a great response, brilliant.:D

ted1

Is there a find my phone type app?

KilOit

ted1 wrote: »

Is there a find my phone type app?

cerberus and find my droid from what I remember. Cerberus does a lot more than just find your phone, can't delete it and you can listen in on the thief's messegages and phone calls as well as takes pictures of them

Sono

TireeTerror wrote: »

Best thing to do is move away from Dublin, its an absolute kip of a place full of robbing dirty scum. Loads of lovely people too of course, but big cities are unsafe.

What a post.

Del2005

scoey wrote: »

Not at all. I was just commenting on it as it is a reaction that I have seen many times over the years in Dublin.
"Don't use white earphones"
"Why didn't you keep your eyes on your bag for the ten seconds in which it was robbed"
"Why did you bring your bike into town anyway"
"Why did you go down such and such street anyway"

I'm just saying it's a sorry state of affairs that this is the way things are in Dublin (and many other places I'm sure).

I guess personal vigilance and keeping your head down in public so as not to attract the attention of criminals is required when you have a police force who have little visible presence outside of a select few spots in terms of on foot patrols and who act like the fire brigade and sit in the station or their cars until called to come and put out a fire.

The police can't be everywhere. I remember being in a bar on the strip in Vegas. A group of women where drinking at a table across from us. A 6'5" bouncer walked up behind them and picked up 2 handbags and held them outstretched at shoulder height beside them for a few minutes till eventually he had to make contact with them.

There have been thieves as long as we existed so while we'd all love to live in the ideal world where you can leave your personal possessions in the open we don't. So we need to make sure instead that we make it harder for the scumbags.

Del2005

KilOit wrote: »

cerberus and find my droid from what I remember. Cerberus does a lot more than just find your phone, can't delete it and you can listen in on the thief's messegages and phone calls as well as takes pictures of them

Android has a find my phone feature built in and I'm sure that IOS would be similar. All are not much use though as rely on WiFi and/or cellular towers which aren't accurate and all they do is turn the phone off.

Donutz

Del2005 wrote:

Android has a find my phone feature built in and I'm sure that IOS would be similar. All are not much use though as rely on WiFi and/or cellular towers which aren't accurate and all they do is turn the phone off.

Samsung have their own version too. I always assumed the location was fairly accurate. Think you can remotely turn on location settings if location is switched off.

You can also wipe and lock phones with this feature so maybe it's a minor consolation but the thieves won't be able to use the phone if you use this feature.

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

Dublinmuppet wrote: »

Absolutely nothing but I'm so glad I didn't reproduce you.

actual belly laugh, well played

JamboMac

Dublinmuppet wrote: »

Okay the title is a lie. It was actually my sons phone. I'm not looking to start a GofundMe page or look to send my family to Disney. Friday afternoon at about 4.30 you grabbed my sons phone out of my hand. I suppose one or two of you are wondering why I have my sons phone but to encourage studying I take the PlayStation and Xbox controllers and hide them in my car. My son is fully on board with this and gets me to take his Samsung Galaxy 6 phone as well because sometimes Games as well as Instagram and Snapchat can distract him. I have lost my confidence and nerve now because of you. Who brought you up to cycle up beside 41 year old women and wrestle phones out of your hand. I love walking and dare I say it playing Pokemon Go but I'm afraid now. I thought nothing of going out walking at 6am in the morning but now I'm hiding In my house. Thanks for nothing Scumbag

Also nearly had this happen to me around last september playing pokemon go, i only noticed him when i stepped to my right to let people on the left past and i heard a ping(him cycling into pole) and then him saying "you fT^*&^&* p7979, i'll burst ye" didn't pay to much attention to that only for the old man waiting at the bus stop 70/80 tried to hit him. Anybody in town on a bicycle is odds on up to no good.

billyhead

B.A._Baracus wrote: »

A lot of scumbags around sadly. Smart phones are a wet dream for them these days.

I was in one of the Chinese Phone Unlocking shops on Moore Street (Dublin) last year and a junkie skanger comes in and asks about fixing "his" iPhone. Went on to say that he "forgot" his unlock screen password. Chinese lad knew the score and firmly said no. Reckon it's a daily occurrence for him.


That said I wouldn't be surprised to hear other shops would do it for him.

Sorry to the OP for going off topic but I was wondering how reliable are these chinese shops for unlocking a mobile phone from one network to be use on another. Is there a risk or data being compromised?

Phil.x

In the ifsc and Spencer dock area have a big problem with scummers on bikes robbing phones. Always keep alert to tracksuit type scummers on bikes.

Del2005

Donutz wrote: »

Samsung have their own version too. I always assumed the location was fairly accurate. Think you can remotely turn on location settings if location is switched off.

You can also wipe and lock phones with this feature so maybe it's a minor consolation but the thieves won't be able to use the phone if you use this feature.

They all have the same problem with accuracy as they are all using the same technique, triangulation from cell towers and WiFi, so can get you to a few hundred metres but the actual device could be anywhere in the circle.

That's all they are useful for. Wiping if stolen or emitting noise if you lost it at home.

KyussBeeshop

Yea saw someone get their phone swiped on O'Connell in this fashion over Christmas - so watch for any guys on bikes around there - do not have your phone out in the city centre at all, preferably.
Also know someone who had their passport, among many other important documents, swiped unawares from their rucksack on O'Connell.

While (disclaimer time) I don't advocate it, wouldn't feel bad seeing one of these fúckers jumped while trying to steal a phone, and getting the shíte kicked out of them.
If the police don't check and follow up the plentiful CCTV for these guys, they probably wouldn't check it for anyone that jumps one of them.

Cutie 3.14

This happened a lot outside my old workplace in Dublin 2, young chap on a bike would hang around the office building and target women with phone out listening to music or texting, but who were also wearing heels so they couldn't chase after them