# I just got mugged **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 3, 2012, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835 "2012-12-03T08:06:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/41 "2012-12-03T20:00:27Z")
> [@living\_in\_hell](#): > > Yes. Because everyone knows only white people like the Duke boys drive red cars. Pfft, everyone knows the Duke boys car was orange. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/42 "2012-12-03T20:18:06Z")
I’m so glad you weren’t physically injured, as awful as the whole experience was it could have been far worse :(. iPhones do seem to be popular theft devices; my niece was mugged last year - in Chicago (which is “funny” only insofar as so many other tales in this thread also happened in Chicago), and they got her iPhone. I don’t know that it was targeted in her case; they got her whole purse. What wound up being a problem for her was: how do you call your friends / family, when you don’t know their numbers because it’s all saved in the phone/s memory!! ---
**Author:** ![tellyworth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/977dab/32.png) [@tellyworth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tellyworth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/43 "2012-12-03T20:18:40Z")
> [@living\_in\_hell](#): > > TAt that time, the tracking feature was not free, and only worked if you’d activated it–which I had not. The location, when identified, is somewhat general and police have tracked down stolen phones there when they are traced to a park or school. The problem is, if the phone is brought to a densely populated area like an apartment building or a municipal parking lot. Needle in the haystack. Also, phone thieves know to immediately turn the phone off, which disables the tracking. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/44 "2012-12-03T20:23:58Z")
> [@echoreply](#): > > … > Mostly I wanted to post to remind dalej42 to change the password for anything to which his phone can login automatically. For example, if the phone can check gmail and facebook without requiring a password, then the password for those sites should be changed so the thief no longer has access to them. If you have the phone set to automatically upload pictures to the Apple cloud or something, then maybe leave that ability, so that you can laugh at (and forward to the police) any pictures they take. Oooh - good point. In addition to the gmail etc. passwords, change _EVERYTHING_. Huge pain, but an enterprising thief can use the email account to gain access to other stuff via password recovery features. I wonder, in fact, if that might not be part of why the phones are targeted. The thief might not be able to use it as a phone - but turn it on where there’s wireless and even though it’s been deactivated for calling, they’ve got access to all the owner’s email and a lot of other information. I gather you can do a remote wipe; if that’s possible at this point and you haven’t already, definitely do so. ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/45 "2012-12-03T20:33:24Z")
> [@living\_in\_hell](#): > > Just curious–any reason you felt the need to mention the thief’s skin color? It really doesn’t seem relevant in the context of the way you presented your story. Skin color was given in the context of a physical description. Nothing racist about that. And it was relevant. ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/46 "2012-12-03T20:42:05Z")
> [@Clothahump](#): > > Skin color was given in the context of a physical description. Nothing racist about that. And it was relevant. I agree; race is not racism. However, I fail to see how, in the original post, it mattered if the thief was black or purple or had 12 eyes and if he left in a red car or a hovercraft. I remarked on this, and dale explained why he used that descriptor. I didn’t disagree with that, and commented about the rationale not being provided in the OP. If I posted that story and didn’t include the details about the race of the thief, would you think that my story was less because I had left out the color of his skin? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/47 "2012-12-04T00:18:15Z")
> [@grude](#): > > Friendly bit of advice, like don’t leave your laptop unattended. I wish I had taken it more seriously. Yeah, but the OP wasn’t leaving anything unattended. Is the advice “do not use an iPhone in public”? Or perhaps “do not use an iPhone in public at certain times of night in certain areas,” which is definitely more reasonable? ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/48 "2012-12-04T00:28:27Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > Yeah, but the OP wasn’t leaving anything unattended. Is the advice “do not use an iPhone in public”? Or perhaps “do not use an iPhone in public at certain times of night in certain areas,” which is definitely more reasonable? Well, let me ask you this. People have had iPhones yanked out of their hands on trains, in stores, and on streets, in broad daylight (case in point–me). The newest, cheapest iPhone is $200. Would you stand on Bourbon St in New Orleans or sit on a crowded subway deck in New York City and start counting out $200 in $20 bills? ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/49 "2012-12-04T00:39:07Z")
True, but kinda defeats the purpose of owning a portable computing device (which I’d count the iPhone as at this point). I mean, how many people would buy one if it came with a warning like “To prevent being a victim of theft, do not use in public”? Unfortunate, but that may just be the way it is. (Now I’m kinda more nervous about using my iPad on my commute. Leaves me to wonder where the line lies. Most e-readers are sub-$100. A 3DS is $150, but seems to be inherently less tempting a target, although with Gamestop you never know…) ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/50 "2012-12-04T00:45:32Z")
> [@living\_in\_hell](#): > > Would you stand on Bourbon St in New Orleans or sit on a crowded subway deck in New York City and start counting out $200 in $20 bills? I see that you have mentioned your extensive experience with the city of New Orleans several times, so I assume that you realize that there is probably no higher concentration of law enforcement officers anywhere in the entire State of Louisiana than on Bourbon St., right? (except for places like a police station or a correctional institution, for those who what to get pedantic about it. Seriously, in general, there are cops hanging out in front of just about every other storefront on Rue Bourbon, especially on the weekend nights) ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/51 "2012-12-04T00:55:36Z")
I’m a man and I’m offended the OP described the criminal as a “man.” Completely irrelevant and sexist. ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/52 "2012-12-04T01:01:04Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I see that you have mentioned your extensive experience with the city of New Orleans several times, so I assume that you realize that there is probably no higher concentration of law enforcement officers anywhere in the entire State of Louisiana than on Bourbon St., right? > > (except for places like a police station or a correctional institution, for those who what to get pedantic about it. Seriously, in general, there are cops hanging out in front of just about every other storefront on Rue Bourbon, especially on the weekend nights) Sure. So if my phone was stolen in broad daylight, at 2:00 PM on a sunny Saturday afternoon in May, surrounded by hundreds of people, on a big tourist weekend, with a higher-than-average number of police officers present, why would anyone assume any public display of their device, anywhere, is safe? (Again, I learned this the hard way…and if I had heard my story before that day, things may have been different). ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/53 "2012-12-04T01:06:50Z")
**dalej42** –I’m glad you’re OK. 🙂 Spend some RL time with a friend you can hug. You need it right now. ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/54 "2012-12-04T01:10:24Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I’m a man and I’m offended the OP described the criminal as a “man.” Completely irrelevant and sexist. I’m a woman and I am offended that when I google “levdrakon” I see a man with better eye makeup than mine. :(m ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/55 "2012-12-04T01:18:59Z")
> [@living\_in\_hell](#): > > I’m a woman and I am offended that when I google “levdrakon” I see a man with better eye makeup than mine. :(m That’s not makeup. Now I’m more offended. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/56 "2012-12-04T01:27:10Z")
> [@levdrakon](#): > > I’m a man and I’m offended the OP described the criminal as a “man.” Completely irrelevant and sexist. > [@levdrakon](#): > > That’s not makeup. Now I’m more offended. 😃 Well then let me lend you some concealer to cover up those sleep circles! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![lost4life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c4cdca/32.png) [@lost4life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lost4life)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/57 "2012-12-04T01:42:19Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > I see that you have mentioned your extensive experience with the city of New Orleans several times, so I assume that you realize that there is probably no higher concentration of law enforcement officers anywhere in the entire State of Louisiana than on Bourbon St., right? > > (except for places like a police station or a correctional institution, for those who what to get pedantic about it. Seriously, in general, there are cops hanging out in front of just about every other storefront on Rue Bourbon, especially on the weekend nights) Upper Bourbon near Canal has issues. Coincidentally, this ([URL=][http://youtu.be/N-Pg94EBYP4](http://youtu.be/N-Pg94EBYP4)) was posted today on my Facebook page by a friend in New Orleans. It shows security footage of an iPhone being violently taken yesterday in the 400 block. This happened at 5:30 pm! ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/58 "2012-12-04T01:49:06Z")
> [@lost4life](#): > > Upper Bourbon near Canal has issues. Coincidentally, this ([URL=][http://youtu.be/N-Pg94EBYP4](http://youtu.be/N-Pg94EBYP4)) was posted today on my Facebook page by a friend in New Orleans. It shows security footage of an iPhone being violently taken yesterday in the 400 block. This happened at 5:30 pm! That sucks. ☹ Look at how everyone stands by and watches. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/59 "2012-12-04T01:56:32Z")
The phone has shown as offline on findmyiPhone since I got home last night. I see that two calls were made from the phone, both to Chicago numbers. One call was only for a minute, probably testing the phone. The other one was for 12 minutes. No text messages or watching Netflix movies. Although I’ve sent a request to erase the iPhone, I’m going to guess it has already been wiped and sold. A quick check of craigslist shows plenty of phones for sale. [I’m sure this scumbag is buying stolen phones](http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ele/3438322974.html) I actually rarely have listened to my Iphone in public. I have so many apps on it, I don’t keep music and it’s hard for me to stream as I head into the Loop most of the time. When I get the new one, I"ll keep it put away if I’m in a similar situation, by myself at night. I don’t want to get into a discussion about race. If the thief had been an elderly Asian woman, I would have mentioned that as well. I still have a serious case of the nerves from last night. I work 3rd shift, but I’m going to walk to Belmont Station tonight and take the Brown Line into work rather than the bus. But, I know I’ll eventually be back at the same bus stop. It sucks because cars often slow down around that intersection to drop people off in one of the numerous large apartment buildings in the area and I know I’m going to be jittery every time I see a car slowing down around that intersection. [LINK](http://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/ele/3445501300.html) EDIT: Just found another craigslist ad where the person is actually asking for stolen phones. ---
**Author:** ![living\_in\_hell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3d9bf3/32.png) [@living\_in\_hell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/living_in_hell)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835/60 "2012-12-04T01:58:20Z")
> [@Leaper](#): > > True, but kinda defeats the purpose of owning a portable computing device (which I’d count the iPhone as at this point). I mean, how many people would buy one if it came with a warning like “To prevent being a victim of theft, do not use in public”? Unfortunate, but that may just be the way it is. > > (Now I’m kinda more nervous about using my iPad on my commute. Leaves me to wonder where the line lies. Most e-readers are sub-$100. A 3DS is $150, but seems to be inherently less tempting a target, although with Gamestop you never know…) https://www.youtube.com/embed/qoaixriclqU?feature=oembed&wmode=opaque On your commute? :eek::eek::eek: [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-got-mugged/642835.md?page=4)