# Am I being set up for a robbery? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 19, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927 "2008-12-19T16:57:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**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:** [December 21, 2008, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/61 "2008-12-21T19:33:14Z")
I recommend calling your grandparents and asking them for the Fedex tracking number. You should have better luck contacting Fedex with that number in hand. ---
**Author:** ![Glazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a88e57/32.png) [@Glazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Glazer)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/62 "2008-12-21T20:42:40Z")
> [@greatshakes](#): > > Dreamy B, I think that you’re misreading. Why do you assume that they are _taking_ the underwear? > More to the OP, however. > In my city, FedEx, and I think some others, hire local contractors during the holiday season. They don’t really have to be companies, basically people with delivery trucks. **Dreamy B** was refering to the South Park episode with the Underpants Gnomes.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Racer1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ee59a6/32.png) [@Racer1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Racer1)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/63 "2008-12-21T21:22:47Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > So apparently I can’t get my package until after the holidays now. Yeah, right. Probably got loads of underwear but you’re keeping it quiet so you don’t have to share the ??? and profit. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/64 "2008-12-21T21:36:57Z")
> [@Cluricaun](#): > > Nope, the last thing we heard was something about putting the lotion in the basket and then the phone cut off. I’m sure that’s nothing. She got a basket from her Grandma…? Q: Are there any wolves missing from The Bronx Zoo…? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/65 "2008-12-21T22:01:07Z")
I got to this thread late but I would recommend in the future that you ask for HAPU service (hold at airport for pick-up). I have a sign on my door for all deliveries and they just leave their normal “we were here” post-it showing where to pick it up. These places usually are open late. That way packages aren’t laying around and in this case you can see the location where it’s coming from. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/66 "2008-12-21T22:14:08Z")
I’m sorry. Am I the only person here who thinks \*\*pbbth \*\*was overreacting? I mean telling her to call the cops and shit and then getting upset when they don’t immediately send a task force to stake out the FedEx delivery guy? ---
**Author:** ![Across](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Across](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Across)\ **Post date:** [December 21, 2008, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/67 "2008-12-21T22:26:23Z")
I don’t know if you’re the only person, but I certainly don’t think it was an overreaction. Several Dopers suggested speaking to the police, and **pbbth** stated quite clearly (see post #60) that she didn’t want a stakeout or police presence, just reassurance that the number was legitimate. The suggestions/jokes about stakeouts came from other posts in this thread. I think _you_ might be overreacting if you consider **pbbth** ’s recounting the conversation she had with the cops as getting upset! ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/68 "2008-12-22T02:26:01Z")
> [@Across](#): > > I don’t know if you’re the only person, but I certainly don’t think it was an overreaction. Several Dopers suggested speaking to the police, and **pbbth** stated quite clearly (see post #60) that she didn’t want a stakeout or police presence, just reassurance that the number was legitimate. The suggestions/jokes about stakeouts came from other posts in this thread. I think _you_ might be overreacting if you consider **pbbth** ’s recounting the conversation she had with the cops as getting upset! I consider the whole thread an overreaction. I mean why would a robber set up a time for you to be at your appartment? ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/69 "2008-12-22T02:31:47Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I consider the whole thread an overreaction. I mean why would a robber set up a time for you to be at your apartment? Because in telling them when you’ll be home, you’re also likely to tell them when you won’t be home. Or they’ll infer it from the acceptable times you give them. ---
**Author:** ![Lionne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Lionne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lionne)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/70 "2008-12-22T03:16:59Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I’m sorry. Am I the only person here who thinks \*\*pbbth \*\*was overreacting? I mean telling her to call the cops and shit and then getting upset when they don’t immediately send a task force to stake out the FedEx delivery guy? No, I agree that involving the cops was overkill. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [December 22, 2008, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/71 "2008-12-22T06:54:25Z")
> [@](#): > > why would a robber set up a time for you to be at your apartment? A robber might not, but some cons (as described in this thread) require gaining the victim’s confidence or lulling him/her into a false sense of security. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 12:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/72 "2008-12-23T12:54:39Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > Because in telling them when you’ll be home, you’re also likely to tell them when you won’t be home. Or they’ll infer it from the acceptable times you give them. 😕 Or, if for some reason they singled pbbth out to rob her of her fortune, they would more likely just call during the normal workday and see if she’s home right then. > [@susan](#): > > A robber might not, but some cons (as described in this thread) require gaining the victim’s confidence or lulling him/her into a false sense of security. Con her into what exactly? At what point do you dream up a scenario so elaborate that “it’s probably just a FedEx guy” becomes the most likely answer? ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/73 "2008-12-23T14:04:29Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > 😕 > > Or, if for some reason they singled pbbth out to rob her of her fortune, they would more likely just call during the normal workday and see if she’s home right then. Which is exactly what they did. They called during my normal work day and asked when they could bring my package. My telling them to bring it on Saturday would allow them to infer that I wasn’t home on Friday and my place would most likely be empty. And I didn’t think they singled me out either, my thought was that if they were criminals they probably went through and called a bunch of people who live in my building to check and see if they could hit more than one apartment at a time. This ended up not being the case but it is not unheard of, especially during the holiday season, for that kind of thing to happen. Luckily it ended up being a normal (and inept) FedEx delivery that still hasn’t made it to my place yet. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/74 "2008-12-23T22:00:54Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > Con her into what exactly? Who knows? While this all may have ultimately been an overreaction, it’s not a bad idea to be skeptical when you receive unsolicited phone calls from unknown individuals that will ultimately require you to interact with them in some way, like let them into your building with a package. The fact that she called FedEx at a published number, and they were unable to locate evidence of a delivery to her would make me suspicious too. People who fail to be suspicious when something seems off, are people who get taken very easily. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/75 "2008-12-23T22:34:04Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > The fact that she called FedEx at a published number, and they were unable to locate evidence of a delivery to her would make me suspicious too. People who fail to be suspicious when something seems off, are people who get taken very easily. Except that **Stuffy** explained very early on (Post 13) what was going on but that didn’t stop people from some OMFG drama. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [December 23, 2008, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/76 "2008-12-23T22:53:31Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > I consider the whole thread an overreaction. I mean why would a robber set up a time for you to be at your appartment? Greetings **msmith537** , Allow me to introduce myself. I am the wife of the late Moketsu Smith who was First Assistant to the Minister of Financial Affairs of our fine Nation. I wish to making appointment with you in discussing important business proposition. What time will you be home? ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/77 "2008-12-29T05:28:35Z")
> [@pbbth](#): > > Luckily it ended up being a normal (and inept) FedEx delivery that still hasn’t made it to my place yet. So has it shown up yet? What was it? I been stewing over this for a week now. ---
**Author:** ![Amblydoper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/fbc32d/32.png) [@Amblydoper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amblydoper)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 8:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/78 "2008-12-29T08:36:16Z")
When I first read this thread, I thought, “I bet its just cookies from Grandma.” So far, I am half right… What’s in the box??? ---
**Author:** ![pbbth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f9ae1b/32.png) [@pbbth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pbbth)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/79 "2008-12-29T13:50:58Z")
> [@Olentzero](#): > > So has it shown up yet? What was it? I been stewing over this for a week now. I don’t know what is in the package. They called and set 5 different appointment times and failed to show up each and every time. Their final delivery attempt (if you can call not showing up with a package a delivery attempt) was on Tuesday and now they have to return the package to my grandparents who will have to resend it to my office so I can actually get my gift. ---
**Author:** ![Olentzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/90ced4/32.png) [@Olentzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Olentzero)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2008, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927/80 "2008-12-29T14:00:27Z")
Dolts. (Them, not you.) Good luck with it! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/am-i-being-set-up-for-a-robbery/477927.md?page=5)