# Advice for the recently Mugged **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 24, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579 "2007-11-24T04:23:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jeeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@Jeeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeeves)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/1 "2007-11-24T04:23:49Z")
My husband and I were mugged (at gunpoint!) about an hour ago by 4 pieces of trash. They took our wallets, though I managed to slip my debit card, drivers license and student ID out. They got everything in Mr. Jeeves wallet. They took his cell phones (blackberry and iphone) but they are both work phones thank god. They tried to take his insulin pump!, but after I yelled that he was diabetic and that would kill him they left it alone (Hey, I figure exageration when being mugged is ok. They missed mine (thankfully, since we don’t have a landline.) I called the cops, they took a statement, and we have the police report number. He is canceling the credit cards right now, we put a hold on the bank account since he had a check in his wallet and his debit card. Is there anything else that we should do? On a side note, LBPD responded very quickly. Thanks Teeming Millions, I am going to get drunk now. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/2 "2007-11-24T04:30:30Z")
I don’t expect my social views to be very favorable among the majority, but I would absolutely love a “zero tolerance” policy. In essence, when trash like this is caught and convicted, they are dragged out behind the shed at dawn. When someone makes the conscious decision to harm or threaten harm of an innocent person, at worst they will actually hurt and kill said innocent individual. At best the innocent person is left sans wallet and important information and gifted with a big old dose of fear and paranoia that will linger for years. These criminals are not human. They have forfeit the privilege to be considered such. They are animals and should be exterminated. ---
**Author:** ![Jeeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@Jeeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeeves)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/3 "2007-11-24T04:34:50Z")
Whoa whoa, lets not let this thread go in that direction. I am only asking for advice in case we missed something. I want to protect us from identity theft, even though these idiots didn’t seem smart enough to do that. If anyone wants to discuss crime and punishment, theres great debates. On a side note, I go to school in a craptacular neighborhood, were people get mugged all the time. Tonight, I was walking in a neighborhood of 2 million dollar homes. I quess if you are going to mug someone, try and at least get a rich someone. Of course, between the two of us we only had $5 in cash! ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/4 "2007-11-24T04:39:05Z")
I had my wallet and cell phone stolen just over a week ago. You’ve done everything right so far. If you’re not too hungover tomorrow morning, go to bank in person and explain what happened. If you smile nicely, they’ll probably send you new cards overnight (the guy on the phone is probably Mr. Jeeves that it will take 5-7 working days). If you’ve got anything outstanding (e.g. upcoming Amazon orders, any kinf of automated payments etc.) they will have to be canceled now and redone when the new card arrives). Assuming Mr. Jeeves lost his drivers license, you’ll need to go to the DMV and get a replacement. It’s much easier if you know what the DL# was (if you have access to canceled checks that’s a good place to look). You’ll need to call work to explain about the phones ASAP. Thieves can rack up a huge bill in just a few days, but you have the police report to explain any problems. Apart from that, you need to breath and/or drink deeply. All you lost was just stuff. In the long run, it’s all replaceable. ---
**Author:** ![Soapbox\_Monkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Soapbox\_Monkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soapbox_Monkey)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/5 "2007-11-24T04:39:08Z")
[QUOTE=Jeeves] On a side note, I go to school in a craptacular neighborhood, were people get mugged all the time. Tonight, I was walking in a neighborhood of 2 million dollar homes. I quess if you are going to mug someone, try and at least get a rich someone. Of course, between the two of us we only had $5 in cash! [/QUOTE] And imagine how much safer the neighborhood (and any neighborhood for that matter) would be if the penalty for mugging was death? And yeah I guess I did let loose a little up there, but between your story and ivylass’ husband’s story last week it makes my blood boil. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/6 "2007-11-24T04:45:30Z")
That just fucking sucks. I hope you two feel ok. I understand it’s a pretty violated feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/7 "2007-11-24T04:47:35Z")
What I’ve done in case I lose my wallet is to prepare a list of the contents, along with the account numbers and phone numbers to call to cancel them. The simple way to do this is to just photocopy the front and backs of all the cards. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/8 "2007-11-24T05:04:15Z")
Let work know that the phones were stolen and what time. Make sure that the phone companies and PD know that information. If the morons try making a call that may help locate them (by cell tower). We actually got a stolen Blackberry back by changing the screen remotely to read something like “We know you stole this, do the right thing and bring it back” (the thief’s parents found it). ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/9 "2007-11-24T05:17:15Z")
When my wallet was stolen in Madrid (cutting my 18-day vacation to 19 hours in the airport), it took me almost 3 weeks to get everything straightened out. I couldn’t get a license without my Social Security card, which I couldn’t get without my birth certificate, which I couldn’t find, etc. etc., etc. These criminals should have way stiffer penalties, if they ever get caught. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 11:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/10 "2007-11-24T11:01:49Z")
Contact the credit reference agencies - Experian et al - and tell them. ---
**Author:** ![bbs2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e495f1/32.png) [@bbs2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bbs2k)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/11 "2007-11-24T11:27:49Z")
[QUOTE=Jeeves] Thanks Teeming Millions, I am going to get drunk now. [/QUOTE] That would have been my advice, glad to hear you’re safe. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/12 "2007-11-24T11:49:28Z")
You may have had only $5 (not uncommon in a credit world), but the fact that you had an iPhone and a blackberry may tell them that you might have other goodies at your home. Which means they have your address. Make sure your locks are up to date with something good. The same goes for your doors and windows. Make sure there are no weaknesses with them. Maybe have neighbors keep a lookout for suspicious activity when you’re not home. That sucks, sorry to hear about that. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/13 "2007-11-24T13:05:40Z")
[QUOTE=Jeeves] I quess if you are going to mug someone, try and at least get a rich someone. Of course, between the two of us we only had $5 in cash! [/QUOTE] Mugger’s Karma…I’ve been mugged twice, both times I had my not-inexpensive violin on my shoulder, yet all they made off with was petty change. 🆒 One of these was at gunpoint, and did shake me up fairly badly. I made the mistake of bottling this up, and it ended up affecting me more and for longer than I now think would have been the case, had I been more honest with myself about how I was feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/14 "2007-11-24T13:22:48Z")
Don’t bottle it up. Tell everybody and accept all sympathies. Report it to the police. Criminals have been caught via cell phone usage. As soon as the mess is straightened out, be nice to yourselves. Go away and make some nicer memories if you can. If you can’t even a nice night out with food and entertainment and some lovin’ will help. ---
**Author:** ![MsRobyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/90ced4/32.png) [@MsRobyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsRobyn)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/15 "2007-11-24T13:49:21Z")
You can also have your bank flag your account for fraud in case the geniuses decide to use what they got. If the bank is halfway decent, they’ll monitor the account and cooperate with the police if/when the cards are used. Also, if your husband had passwords stored on the Blackberry or iPhone, have him change them immediately. Good luck. Robin ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/16 "2007-11-24T14:50:57Z")
Don’t just cancel your credit cards - report lost your Blockbuster card, your library card, etc. You don’t want to be on the hook for big fines that way, although with a police report you shouldn’t be on the hook for them. ---
**Author:** ![Campion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@Campion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Campion)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/17 "2007-11-24T16:27:43Z")
[QUOTE=Quartz] Contact the credit reference agencies - Experian et al - and tell them. [/QUOTE] The credit reporting agencies can put a security freeze on your credit, at your request. See, for example, [Equifax](http://www.equifax.com/cs/Satellite/EFX_Content_C1/1159835156816/5-1/5-1_Layout.htm): > [@](#): > > You have the right to place a security freeze on your Equifax credit file under state law or the Equifax voluntary security freeze program. To determine the requirements of a security freeze for your state and the fees for placing and temporarily lifting a security freeze, please see [State Freeze Requirements and Fees](http://www.equifax.com/cs/Satellite/EFX_Content_C1/1174053574643/5-1/5-1_PopupLayout.htm). A security freeze will limit us from reporting your Equifax credit file to third parties, such as credit grantors and other companies and agencies, except those exempted by law or the Equifax voluntary security freeze program or those for whom you contacted us and requested that we temporarily lift the security freeze. > > A security freeze will require you to plan ahead for all your credit applications as you will need to contact us to request that we temporarily lift your freeze to allow us to report your Equifax credit file to the credit grantor you identify. See also [Experian](http://www.experian.com/identity_fraud/fraud_prevention.html), and [TransUnion](http://www.transunion.com/corporate/personal/fraudIdentityTheft/preventing/securityFreeze.page). Note that there may be some small fee associated with the freeze, but it isn’t a subscription service, so don’t accidentally sign up for their “credit monitoring” services thinking it’s a security freeze. Good luck with this; glad you both are okay. ---
**Author:** ![Jeeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@Jeeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeeves)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/18 "2007-11-24T20:26:34Z")
Mr. Jeeves wallet has been fund. They tossed it out of their car about 2 miles away from us, and it was found this morning by a resident walking. The credit cards were gone, but the AAA card was still in it. They called AAA, who called me with the good samaritans name and #. Mr. Jeeves is going to pick it up now. Unfortunately, it has been handled by at least 2 additional people, so its no good for fingerprints. Thanks for the great advice, the bank is notified, we put a stop on the check and card they got, and we will be watching for any fradulent charges. Does anyone have any experience with the credit monitoring services? I have considered them before, but the security freeze also sounds like a good idea. I wonder if we qualify as victims of identity theft? ---
**Author:** ![Jeeves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@Jeeves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeeves)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/19 "2007-11-24T23:01:22Z")
Update 2. They took Mr. Jeeves credit cards, health insurance card (why?), and drivers license out of the wallet before ditching it. The left the check, thankfully. So we are still going to monitor our credit, but they don’t have anything to access our checking account with, and they don’t have our current address, since the check was the only thing with it on it. ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579/20 "2007-11-24T23:13:03Z")
That’s a relief. You got off unhurt and even some of the most potentially damaging things returned. Count your blessings. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/advice-for-the-recently-mugged/427579.md?page=2)