To not let a stranger on the streets borrow my mobile phone?

[Whitlandcarm]

I was out in a city that I don't know on saturday. It's a snooty city known as a sanctuary for rich londoners etc, so obviously the vast majority of people were very smartly dressed. (Not of course that matters)

Anyways, I was walking with my partner and we were approached by a man and a woman who looked a bit er dodgey if that's the best way I can describe them

She asked if either of us had a phone she could borrow for a minute.... my partner apoligised and said we'd left it at the hotel

I had been carrying my phone in my hand at my side, so tried to slip it into my pocket discretely

But she spotted it and shouted annoyed at us with "he says as you slip a phone into your pocket"

I don't know whether I feel guilty as she genuinely could've been in need and a minute on the phone costs nothint these days. I sure know I'd hope someone would help me out in a time of need.

But then the other half of me is saying, what if they were to run off with the phone? (Iphone- so not a cheap throw away)
Could they not ask the museum/cafes/shops/hotels around the square to use their phone? There was even a red telephone box nearby.

Where we being unreasonably selfish? Overly cautious or right in out reaction?

This was in a local paper recently
m.surreymirror.co.uk/man-punched-woman-in-the-face-and-ripped-her-hair-out-in-dorking-high-street/story-30340843-detail/story.html

Yab a bit u
Most people are very trustworthy!
I was in Tesco a few weeks ago. DH dropped me off and I ran in alone. He waited in the car with the dc. I forgot to life my mobile.
When I finished shopping I went out to look for him, couldn't see him anywhere and was getting really annoyed! I tried calling from the payphone but £3 later and the fucking call wouldn't connect.
It was raining and I was really pissed off!
I asked a stranger could I borrow their phone so I could ring dh and he said yes! If he hadn't been so kind I would have had to trail my shopping around the massive Tesco carpark in the rain!

I think I'd be very wary if I was on the street and someone came up and asked to borrow my phone. However I have in the past leant my phone to people in the right situation. The most recent was when I was waiting in A&E with a friend, there was a lady there who obviously had a lot of things going on in her life. She needed to let her other half know she was being discharged home so that he didn't lock the front door but her own phone had died. She even tried to give me some cash for it bless her.

At the same time I've had an English family approach me in the mall in Calais asking for petrol money to get home; and then approach me the following day at the docks... That didn't end well.

Scams happen I would hope that everyone is wise enough to know that, but at the same time I would hope that people are wise enough to know how to help where it's genuinely needed. I would hate to leave someone in distress or in any bad situation for the sake of something that I own. Kindness costs nothing.