Let's go into Dublin City Center with an iPhone and get mugged!

EdanHewittt · 05-10-2012 06:05PM #1

Gardaí have issued a warning to mobile phone users after new figures revealed a significant jump in the number of mobile phone thefts in the first seven months of the year.

Source: http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0807/mobile-phone-users-warned-of-increase-in-thefts.html

I do quite enjoy having a phone that can compute PI to a million decimal places in my pocket, but feel an unease bringing it out in Ireland's main thoroughfares.
It seems, now, I am forced to own two phones.

- My pocket supercomputer I keep at home, where I am free to wave it around proudly without the glassy eyes of a skobe salivating over it.
- The other (cheap) phone I bring out, knowing if it gets stolen, the mugger will simply use it as a door-wedge.

Correct me if I'm right, but aren't Smartphones just a beacon that say "I have money, please rob me"? I am not talking about the QWERTY keyboard phones that you can get for a score now, but the latest model ones in the €300 / €400 price range, i.e Lumias, Galaxies, iPhones, etc? You're asking to get jumped on, waving it around in town like that amongst us mere mortals aren't you?

Yeah sure, everyone has a right to bring their personal belongings into town, providing they keep them in sight at all times, are vigilant, and are otherwise not dressing like a Hipster, which gives even more impetus to believe you have an iPhone concealed on your person, etc.

But you won't be exercising that right when you are threatened with "A syringe full of AIDs" by a gang of hoods, will you?

TL;DR version:

Don't bring expensive electronic items into town. And if you are bringing a phone anywhere (Not just in Dublin), ensure it doesn't cost your soul. #ProTIP

cometogether · 05-10-2012 06:07PM

Apparently there's lads going around on bikes who are experts at nabbing them. Supposedly they usually target people who are using them at the time.

Praetorian Saighdiuir · 05-10-2012 06:07PM

Should I also not jump infront of a speeding train?

Inquitus · 05-10-2012 06:07PM

Only 20% were nicked from the owners person, the rest were left in cars or nicked in pubs etc.

I'd say it more says have some feckin cop on.

MadsL · 05-10-2012 06:10PM

You think citizens have no right or expectation of basic protection when walking in their capital?

Whilst I agree not waving expensive things around is a sensible precaution, a more zero-tolerance approach to policing on Grafton/O'Connell street would be good. As well as seeing more Gardai on foot/bikes.

I thought iPhones could be turned into useless bricks by phone companies anyway, is there any point stealing them?

Madam Marie · 05-10-2012 06:10PM

benwavner wrote: »

Should I also not jump infront of a speeding train?

Not with your iPhone anyway.

dj jarvis · 05-10-2012 06:11PM

EdanHewittt wrote: »

Source: http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0807/mobile-phone-users-warned-of-increase-in-thefts.html

I do quite enjoy having a phone that can compute PI to a million decimal places in my pocket, but feel an unease bringing it out in Ireland's main thoroughfares.
It seems, now, I am forced to own two phones.

- My pocket supercomputer I keep at home, where I am free to wave it around proudly without the glassy eyes of a skobe salivating over it.
- The other (cheap) phone I bring out, knowing if it gets stolen, the mugger will simply use it as a door-wedge.

Correct me if I'm right, but aren't Smartphones just a beacon that say "I have money, please rob me"? I am not talking about the QWERTY keyboard phones that you can get for a score now, but the latest model ones in the €300 / €400 price range, i.e Lumias, Galaxies, iPhones, etc? You're asking to get jumped on, waving it around in town like that amongst us mere mortals aren't you?

Yeah sure, everyone has a right to bring their personal belongings into town, providing they keep them in sight at all times, are vigilant, and are otherwise not dressing like a Hipster, which gives even more impetus to believe you have an iPhone concealed on your person, etc.

But you won't be exercising that right when you are threatened with "A syringe full of AIDs" by a gang of hoods, will you?

TL;DR version:

Don't bring expensive electronic items into town. And if you are bringing a phone anywhere (Not just in Dublin), ensure it doesn't cost your soul. #ProTIP

so change the misleading Dublin bashing title then

anncoates · 05-10-2012 06:11PM

Just bash any junkie that tries to take it. Most of them.can barely stand, let alone fight back.

Tombi! · 05-10-2012 06:15PM

anncoates wrote: »

Just bash any junkie that tries to take it. Most of them.can barely stand, let alone fight back.

Junkies aren't the issue.
Scumbags are.

Local-womanizer · 05-10-2012 06:16PM

I have an iPhone, but I have feck all money. I got it cheap for an iPhone.

Also I only have mine out when talking to people or sitting somewhere surfing the web, I don't walk around waving it around in beggars faces laughing at their poverty....

anncoates · 05-10-2012 06:17PM

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

Junkies aren't the issue.
Scumbags are.

My bashing exhortation is quite catholic in its field of applicability.

Rented Mule · 05-10-2012 06:19PM

Brutal Deluxe wrote: »

Junkies aren't the issue.
Scumbags are.

Leave the hard working junkies alone !!

starviewadams · 05-10-2012 06:23PM

Don't walk around with it stuck to your ear/or texting oblivious to what's going on around you and you'll be grand.

Common sense really.

anncoates · 05-10-2012 06:24PM

Seriously though: just try not to do stuff like texting on the street and keep your eyes open if you think you might be a target. Unfortunately they probably target teenagers rather than the likes of me.

Lawrence1895 · 05-10-2012 06:25PM

Dress up like a sc**bag, hide the phone, sorted

zenno · 05-10-2012 06:27PM

Gardaí have issued a warning to mobile phone users after new figures revealed a significant jump in the number of mobile phone thefts in the first seven months of the year

I don't see the problem really...The answer is simple, use that neck that is connected to your head and look around first to monitor your surroundings and then pull out your iphone if safe to do so and use it in the comfort knowing that no scumbag is watching or looking at you from the dark corner of a building. If people don't have these basic in the wild skills then learn them. :rolleyes:

Tombi! · 05-10-2012 06:36PM

zenno wrote: »

I don't see the problem really...The answer is simple, use that neck that is connected to your head and look around first to monitor your surroundings and then pull out your iphone if safe to do so and use it in the comfort knowing that no scumbag is watching or looking at you from the dark corner of a building. If people don't have these basic in the wild skills then learn them. :rolleyes:

And you can tell in say... the middle of a busy street with upwards of 40 people, exactly who is and who is not a thief by eyesight alone?

Pottler · 05-10-2012 06:39PM

As they stomp you and rob your phone, just roar out "Ahh Leave ih out!" Loudly. Have a friend handy to video it. You will become an instant internet sensation and can then go buy lots more smartyphones. Problem solved.

Snowie · 05-10-2012 06:42PM

i just try not to take my phone out...walking down the street i don't have eyes at the back of my head...my head hones have a mic and if I don't like who I'm speaking to or don't want to I'll hang up..... How is any one that stupid that they walk down to the street texting away Is beyond me...

who_me · 05-10-2012 06:47PM

EdanHewittt wrote: »

Don't bring expensive electronic items into town. And if you are bringing a phone anywhere (Not just in Dublin), ensure it doesn't cost your soul. #ProTIP

That's nothing. I saw someone arrive into the city in a car. A CAR! Well, laa-dee-daa! And then he just left it there by the footpath, unattended.

Anyone that stupid and reckless doesn't deserve something that expensive. I had to steal it, just on general principle.

Pottler · 05-10-2012 06:47PM

Snowie wrote: »

i just try not to take my phone out...walking down the street i don't have eyes at the back of my head...my head hones have a mic and if I don't like who I'm speaking to or don't want to I'll hang up..... How is any one that stupid that they walk down to the street texting away Is beyond me...

So now you have to hide your phone? Nah, think I'll just keep using mine.

ejmaztec · 05-10-2012 06:48PM

No doubt the iPhone 93 will be wired into your skull, which will make things a bit messy up in the big metropolis when some skanger tries to rob you.

Madam Marie · 05-10-2012 06:57PM

The vast majority of stolen phones that are grabbed out of someone's hand are done by thieves on bikes. They usually will pass the phone to someone on foot when the round the next corner in case they are caught. Had it done to me a few years back and was shag all I could do but stand there open mouthed, catching flies.

Anyway, these days, in an effort to get my own back on such scumbaggery, I lean against a lamppost in or around the city centre on busy Saturday's with a fake iPhone 4 in my hand, gazing down at it, for hours at a time, just so I can catch one of these f***tardarians.

Now, I know what your thinking: how is them having stolen a fake iPhone really all that much of a payback for them, considering they might even sell the damn things for a few quid. Well you see, using some quality transparent fishing line, I always make sure and tie the damn things very tightly to the lamposts.

I've come to love the sound of arms dislocating from their sockets. Haven't bought a fire log in years. Lacoste wrapped arms burn for hoursso they do.

Anyone wanna buy a wristwatch? Have tons.

Intensive Care Bear · 05-10-2012 07:01PM

Insure it, back up all your info and stop worrying about what might happen your phone.

Tombi! · 05-10-2012 07:02PM

Madam Marie wrote: »

Anyone wanna buy a wristwatch?

No thank you. I don't deal with scum that attacks poor kids on bikes.

Snowie · 05-10-2012 07:02PM

Pottler wrote: »

So now you have to hide your phone? Nah, think I'll just keep using mine.

Nope i just don't walk around certain parts of city centers showing it off to the world! Reason why people get mugged or robbed is because there careless...

All mobile phone theft is opportunist practice. I just try not to give them to much of a chance.

Tombi! · 05-10-2012 07:08PM

Snowie wrote: »

Nope i just don't walk around certain parts of city centers showing it off to the world! Reason why people get mugged or robbed is because there careless...

All mobile phone theft is opportunist practice. I just try not to give them to much of a chance.

Careless? Are you joking?
I can understand if you're talking about leaving a phone/laptop/etc in the car where people can see it.
But mugging is never the fault of the victim

af_thefragile · 05-10-2012 07:11PM

Hah I walk around the streets of dublin with my new iPhone 5 hanging by my neck like one of those bling-bling thing rappers wear!

Biggins · 05-10-2012 07:14PM

To be honest, if your going around quiet and/or insecure areas with any expensive item and its visible, its might be asking for trouble.

A wise head is all thats really needed.

HeyThereDeliah · 05-10-2012 07:17PM

Is it only in Dublin this happens?

EdanHewittt · 05-10-2012 07:25PM

Too much emphasis on the lone-skobe. Very rarely happens that way.

It's these wolf-packs you see walking past you that give me the nerves.

who_me wrote: »

That's nothing. I saw someone arrive into the city in a car. A CAR! Well, laa-dee-daa! And then he just left it there by the footpath, unattended.

Anyone that stupid and reckless doesn't deserve something that expensive. I had to steal it, just on general principle.

I suppose in some sense, you are right. But when I said electronic goods, I meant things you carry on your person. Cars have alarms and such that deter theft.

That said, there must be a market for phone-theft deterrent devices, where you ring the phone after its been robbed, and it mangles the circuitry and makes it unusable. (Even if you bring it to a dodgy "phone unlocking" place that makes stolen phones workable again) - it still wont work.

*Dragon's Den Idea*

Let's go into Dublin City Center with an iPhone and get mugged!

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