Yep — I was pickpocketed at a Raleigh bar. No, I didn’t feel a thing. Yes, this is sounds like an old-timey crime but is most definitely a thing that happens in 2019. This is a PSA.
I’m not going to lie; Sometimes I lose things. Like I really lose things. I may or may not have ordered two replacement debit cards in the span of two months. A few weeks ago, I had to log into Find My iPhone on a Target employee’s device because I had left my own phone inside of a random shopping cart.
So, I’m trying really hard to be conscious of where I put things. I distinctly remember seeing a Snapchat notification, thinking “I’m going to check this when I’m not packed inside of this bar like a sardine,” and slipping the phone back into my purse. Tragically, I also remember not zipping my purse back up.
When I reached for it a few minutes later, it was gone.
Enter crisis mode. I logged into Find My iPhone on my friend’s device and saw that the dot was exactly where I was standing just a few minutes earlier, and hadn’t been updated in 15 minutes. I called it, and it went straight to voicemail.
My heart sank as a bouncer gave me a pity look and said “Ma’am, I’m afraid your phone has been stolen.” He didn’t seem surprised.
This is 2019 — who wants to steal a phone, especially an iPhone 7? After some Googling, I learned that people who steal phones will sell them overseas for a lot of money. Someone wanted my phone that survived 2 swims in the toilet and they took it right out of my purse.
I’ve already gotten a new model, an upgrade in fact — but, I can’t help but mourn the loss of my old phone and all of the photos that the thief wiped from my iCloud drive. I guess they were able to crack the “1234” passcode. Shocker.
A lot was learned from this experience, but I do want to give a huge shout-out to my supportive mother, who loves me even though I texted her with my computer at 4 a.m.; and to my pals for 1) writing out very clear directions so I could get home because I suck and rely too much on Waze and 2) buying me a #9 from McDonald’s to help me feel better.
Moral(s) of the story: Use an actual phone password and most importantly, ZIP. YOUR. PURSE.
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