06/12/2023
My Phone got stolen I Zara Rockwell last Sunday. How unfortunate that I had to be a victim of a pick pocket! What should’ve been an enjoyable shopping time with my mom and my daughter turned out to be one horror story.
It all happened in less than 10 mins. I was accompanying my mom to the fitting room so I carried the clothes with both hands. 2 females… walking beside us were the suspects. I find it also questionable that as soon as I felt that my phone disappeared from my bag while waiting for a room, the staff handling that area just stared at me like she didn’t have any intention to help. By the way, I requested for a footage of the incident on the store’s cctv so I could identify the person or persons who did it and give me some chance to locate them in the mall. Unfortunately, the Zara staff including the security and manager did not have any sense of urgency… meaning… checking the 10 minute images on the cctv didn’t come out or was not shown until I went back there the day after. Despite me leaving my other cel number and my daughter’s, we never got any update from them at all. They also couldn’t guarantee when they could show me the footage.
To my frustration, I went to the Globe center to have my number blocked and asked what else I could do to protect
the contents of my phone. Thanks to the very helpful staff of Globe named Ron, he helped me block the SIM card and assisted me
in next steps to take to request for a new sim card that I can use once I get a cel phone running.
All my work and personal photos were there….2 years worth!!! Most were saved on an external hard drive but still some unsaved. when I say some… a few hundreds. My messages on whatsapp and viber…I have no idea how to retrieve even using an iCloud. Online banking details etc… I had to set up again one by one. Email is the same. Set up and activate.
It was agonizing for me to see the location where the thief opened my cellphone that gave me a location. I actually drove there to get to see the area and figure out how to bust the place… but I was unsuccessful. It was night time and I don’t know how to navigate without trespassing. The next time my phone sent a signal on a location, the following day, my password and iCloud details were bypassed already in less than 5 minutes. “Find my phone” no longer working and iCloud back up was emptied!!! They were expert thieves!
What’s the moral of the the story….
1. Beware of people wearing masks in the mall. If they’re not senior, truly keep your distance !!!
2. Use a bag with a zipper and keep it zipped at all times.
3. Have a pouch in your bag where you can keep your valuables to make it harder to sn**ch
4. Be vigilant… specially during this season. The mall that I thought was safe from these pick pockets is not so safe anymore. I heard several incidents relayed by friends that such things have been happening in the same store and other branches… what are the odds that this could be syndicated???
5. Save your photos. Back up whenever you can. I don’t normally subscribe to full iCloud back up but now I’m considering this as my guarantee to keep my files safer but I will also back up manually on external hard drives if there’s anyone out there who can help retrieve my messages on viber and WhatsApp… help is very much appreciated.
Now, for the THIEVES!!!… I have your photos. I will post it here too so you’ll be exposed! If and when I find you… get ready. Even if I don’t see you, get the more ready…. there is no peace for the wicked. God will take care of this. God hates injustice. You will have your day…. A thousand times back to you… just so you know. Be afraid… very afraid.
Today I grieve but tomorrow I will pick up from where I need to start. Ranting my heart out 💔💔💔
