Pickpockets

[Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain]

I was out yesterday in Bayswater/Queensway, in a pub. A woman sitting behind us with her DH and 2 young sons had her phone pickpocketed and a carrier bag taken. Pub wasn’t that busy and I think she either turned away or her DH got distracted then they pounced.

It’s not an AIBU but don’t people realise especially in the holiday period and in a touristy area that pickpockets are rife? The DH seemed to be half amused by this, prat. Police car came and bar staff said they had cameras but the phone is gone now. Highly unlikely to be recovered.

Stealing a mobile phone these days is stupid. Most phones can be deactivated within seconds. However, everyone needs to be aware of thieves. I have been to Barcelona, Paris and Rome and never been pickpocketed thankfully, because I remained hyper aware of my surroundings.

Yeah, this happened to one of my relatives in a pub. You often put your bags on the floor not really in sight, or you’re distracted.

Yeah it happens all the time. No matter how aware you think you are, it could happen to absolutely anyone. Though if you're in an unfamiliar area with lots of distractions it makes it more likely.

Hopefully not too much harm done as she could hopefully freeze and cancel cards on the spot. I hope the shopping bag didn't have anything really special in it. Horrible.

I was hyper aware of the potential of this happening in London this summer gone and walking up Oxford Street I saw so many bags that were open and any opportunist could have taken advantage of.

I suppose as I’m technically a Londoner I’m always vigilant.

This pub was a touristy one. The poor boys though, they were crying as their mum was upset.

We had actually been sitting behind this family but then moved as it wasn’t easy for my boyfriend to sit behind them, not much room, so we would’ve spotted pickpockets had we been sitting there.

The phone has probably been sold on. If she’s like me she had fingerprint passcode for banking transactions. I wonder if the phone was insured against theft.