Sunday, March 01, 2009

mugged


We were having our leisure walk in one of the busiest and known shopping district in Shenzhen when 3 men mugged my son. We were actually a group of five walking aimlessly to get to the subway in a jampacked Dongmen Street. I was near my son and was having a nice chat when suddenly a man from behind dropped a key. He was in the act of picking it when I saw that he was holding my son's left leg instead and that was when I heard my son shouted that somebody had snatched his mobile phone from his jean's right-hand pocket.

It was so fast that we barely saw what happened. Fortunately my son's celfone was attached to a neck chain. The chain made it visible so my daughter who was walking together with our 2 lady friends about a meter behind us saw the neck chain hanging from another man's arm folded underneath his jacket. My daughter pointed and shouted that the man standing between us was the culprit. In an instant, I approached the man and asked him to give it back..

We were so scared but I had to face the man or totally lose the celphone. By then, the man probably noticed that almost all the spectators from the street has been looking at him readily gave the celfone to me and walk away as if nothing had happened..

The muggers were composed of 3 well-dressed men in their early 30's who deem to walk among the crowded streets and pretended to have dropped a key. They were actually well dressed as if just came out from the office. The first man will drop a key from behind to distract the victim, the other one pickpockets while the third person will distract you pretending that he's holding the loot. This 3rd man will actually pretend to walk and run fast at you to make the victim think that he's the one who did it. So if the police happen to arrive at the scene, there will be no evidence to prove the charges.

That Saturday night is one of the scariest night we all had. It happened yesterday but we still felt the fear up to now..

We understand that pickpockets and muggers are everywhere in big cities like Shenzhen. The best way to do is to avoid crowded areas and if possible never to carry anything valuable when you're just having a leisure walk. We love Shenzhen but we cannot deny the fact that it is saturated with negative entities such as muggers, pickpockets and thieves. Shenzhen is a special economic zone which attracts some of the best and some of the worst kind all over China.

Another lesson learned..

33 comments:

Leslie said...

What a scary thing to happen to you.
I am just glad no one was hurt and you did get the phone back
Stay safe. Hugs~~~~Leslie

Judith said...

what a fright for you and your family -but pleased that no one was hurt but you will all be in shock for a while - so take care my friend, Judith

Queen-Size funny bone said...

thank goodness no one was hurt. It kills me how bold and shameless these type of people are these days.

Joanie said...

You are very brave to confront the man, and good for your daughter for her sharp eyes! I'm glad your son still has his cell phone!

aurbie said...

Oh, my! Well you don't have to worry about that in Ontario. Only the bears will attack you. Just kidding.

Glad you are OK.

Stay safe!

I like the photo you took.

Unknown said...

how scary!! so glad you are all ok

Sardonyx said...

Scary! I'm glad you're all ok. You're brave to confront the bad guy and you're lucky that he didn't fight back.

Bonnie said...

I ma so sorry that ths happened to you and your son, your daughter and friends. It seems to prove that even a large group can be the target. I am glad he had a chain on the phone. It makes it hard to go back but you should. Just like when you fall off a horse you need to get back on. If we don't pretty soon we will just be sitting at home. It is sad that world has so many evil people as well as many wonderful people. You take care, OK? Hugs, Bonnie

Deanna said...

Loida,
you are so brave but my goodness, I don't know that I would have approached the man...not here in San Antonio anyway!

I'm still trying to work out the kinks from the virus attack so it's been hard to visit anyone right now.

I hope everyone in your family is okay and doing well and I pray that nothing like that every happens to you again.

All of my love,
Deanna :D

Joanne Kennedy said...

Wow! How scary and brave of you to go up to him to get the phone back. I think I would have run the whole way home.

Hugs,
Joanne

Anonymous said...

Ms.Loida, you are brave at the same time, sorry but I have to say it, foolhardy. Luckily you're in a place with a lot of people and witnesses. That somehow made the culprit think twice. Don't ever do that in Manila. Criminals there won't think twice to hurt you if they don't get what they want. It's not worth the risk if it will endanger you or your loveones.

Take care...

Midlife, menopause, mistakes and random stuff... said...

Oh my gosh Loida!!!! Is he okay???? Like Patty said, you won't have to deal that in Canada. They are really quite nice people and not all driven by crime there in those area's as the big overpopulated cities!!

Let me know that you son is okay girl and we are thinking of you my friend.

Steady On
Reggie Girl

Jami said...

I am sorry to hear of this scary event! Glad you are all okay...that's the important thing. Thinking of you.
Jami

The French Bear said...

I am so relieved that you and your family are alright, how terrifying!!! Thank God you weren't hurt!
Hugs
Margaret B

Danette said...

Shenzhen is beautiful. Isn't it sad there are people who do bad things everywhere?!
I'm so glad everything turned out like it did, but I know you had to all be so scared!
Praise God you are all safe!

Strawberry Girl said...

My word I really don't know what I would do in that situation, your really brave. :0) Though I bet you were still scared. It's nice to meet you.

~Strawberry Girl

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Dearest LESLIE,
Thanks for your concern. We were really scared right after. Thanks God no one was hurt,. We don't care about the phone, I was just stunned why they have to do that to my son. Thanks for the hugs my friend.

---------------------------------
Dearest JUDITH,
I think we were really lucky not to get hurt. Actually we're still in a kind of shock up to now. I would never put ourselves into that kind of situation again. Thanks a lot my friend for your concern.

---------------------------------
Dear QUEEN-SIZE FUNNY BONE,
You're right my friend, it's really a shame why people had to turn to that kind of shameless did considering that by the look of them, they can easily find an honest job. Thanks for your concern.

---------------------------------
Dear JOANIE,
I never thought I was that brave. I cannot actually imagine myself doing that; confronting the thieves but I did. I'm not sure it is the right thing to do. Thanks my friend for comforting us.

--------------------------------
Dearest PATTY,

The best comment as ever.. hahaha.. I guess we have to go there as soon as possible and stay out of the woods..
Thanks for the care.

---------------------------------
Dear BECKY,
Yeah it really devastated us but we're fine now. I guess it would take time now before we can go back to that same place.. or never again. Thanks a lot my friend..

--------------------------------
Dearest SARDONIX,

I never thought I was that brave. I was actually surprised how I did that. Confronting the bad guys is one of the worst thing to do in a situation like that but I guess I was that foolish. I'm not sure what would happen to us if the bad guys retaliate. Thanks for the concern.

----------------------------------
Dearest BONNIE,

We were actually overwhelmed by what we had experienced. My husband firmly advised us not to come back there again. I guess it would take sometime to regain our composure in crowded places like that. We may never control the evil people but the lessons we learned would make us extra careful. Thanks a lot my friend for the concern.

---------------------------------

My dear DEANNA,
Yeah, it really devastated our faith in 'Crime-Free-Shenzhen'.
Thanks God, we're alright. I guess the phobia caused by what had happened would not put us in that kind of situation again. Thanks a lot for your love and concern.

I am missing your up-dates. I hope my son is there to fix your computer. He's our handyman and really good in fixing computers.

--------------------------------
Dear JOANNE KENNEDY,
Thanks my friend. I guess it was not an act of bravery but a spur of the moment reaction. Actually I cannot move my feet right after I got the phone back.. I was really nervous and shaking. Thank God we made it home safely..

---------------------------------

Dear BLOGUSVOX,
Thanks a lot. Your concern and advise is highly appreciated. That's exactly what my husband told us when he realized what happened.

Actually what I did even surprised me. I never thought I had that courage.. Maybe an effect of an adrenaline rush, a kind of a spur of the moment reaction. What happened would definitely teach me a lesson..

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Dearest REGGIE GIRL,

Thanks a lot for your concern. Our son is fine now.. Good to know that our next stop is crime-free.

---------------------------------

Dearest JAMMI,
Thanks for thinking of us. Your concerns are all deeply appreciated.

-----------------------------------

Dearest MARGARET,
We were horrified and we only felt that right after the actual mugging. We're just lucky that we weren't hurt. Thanks my friend for your concern..

---------------------------------

Dearest DANNETTE,

Thanks my friend for your concern. You're right, Shenzhen is beautiful and like many big cities, it is now a haven to bad people like those who mugged my son. We were really scared and I guess it would take time now before we can ever come back to that place again..

------------------------------

To STRAWBERRY GIRL,
Thanks for dropping by. Yeah you're right, we were really scared.. Good that we made it home safely despite of the shock we had.
See again soon..

Mervat said...

How awful! I am glad to hear that you are safe and well. THat was very brave of you to confront these terrible, shameless men.

Take care and stay safe you and your family.

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Dear MERVAT,
Thanks for extending your concern. It really means a lot to us.

RJ said...

So, this is a little bit of Shenzhen! Huhmn.

Thanks for sharing your experience and for enumerating the lessons you've learned. It's applicable anytime, anywhere in this world. U

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Dear RJ,
Thanks for dropping by. I'm glad that you had the chance to see a bit of Shenzhen thru this. Most of it however are worthwhile except the mugging part. Have a nice day to you and pls be safe.

mightydacz said...

wow amazing thanks for sharing this story the other side of shenzhen!!!looks like a scene in a movie,you are so brave to approached the culprit.You are such a WONDER MOM....clap clap clap

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Hello MIGHTYDACZ,

salamat sa palakpak..! Grabe ha, we're both super heroes..

Introducing the WONDER MOM and MIGHTY DACZ..!! (nyee!)

I'll post our costume later..

See ya!

lizzy-loo said...

dongmen can be a dangerous place. i have a friend who caught a pick pocket with his hand in her bag in the act of pulling out her wallet. she slapped him and then he slapped her back. be careful. thanks for visiting my log it is nice to have someone from shenzhen.

lizzy-loo said...

ooops not log - i am not a bear. my Blog.

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Dear Lizzy Loo,
Oh my God, he did that to your friend..? I guess I was really lucky the muggers did not retaliate. Anyway, he cannot slapped me back I was so gentle when I requested him to return my son's mobile phone.. I guess it works.. And besides I never thought I could do that..

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

Hi sweet friend,
Thank you so much for your visit and your understanding words.
I have been bad about keeping up on my visits. I try but I have been so otherwise involved. Things at this moment are alright here. I have been advised to ignore what is going on and to be honest I feel much better since I backed away from it both emotionally and trying to take pictures to prove it. I have many pictures..but choose to let them be.

I could not believe it when I read what happened to you! I know it happens to people but it is always a shock when it is to someone you know. I am so glad you got the phone back. I don't know if I would have been so brave. It doesn't always turn out as good. Thank God you are all alright!
I lost my blog list and had to put it all back in. I cannot get yours to go on. Can you please send me the URL so I can add you? There were several that "blogger" would not take and I have no idea why.
Love and hugs to you. Please take good care..
Mona

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

My dearest Mona,
Thanks and I'm really glad you finally decided not to mind so much and let them be. Thanks also for your concern. My URL is
http://2l3bs.blogspot.com/

Hope to see you again soon and I'm sure to come back to you often espcially now that spring is here. I love to see your garden.

Heart of Rachel said...

That must have been a very scary experience. You are so brave to approach that guy. I'm glad that you got back the phone without anyone getting hurt.

Thanks for sharing this post and exposing the modus operandi of those robbers.

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Dearest RACHEL,
Thanks for the comment. Yeah it was really scary. That guys were really bad and I wonder how they came up with such despicable occupation.

dot&co. said...

dear ate Loida,

hay naku, katakot talaga mag-dongmen sa gabi! madalas pa naman akong magpunta ron mag-isa pero aware ako lagi sa things ko at sa paligid, minsan nga mukha akong paranoid na nakikiramdam hahaha habang kipkip-kipkip na mabuti ang bag at shinaping, LOL! kating-kati na pa naman akong mag-shopping, but we usually go there early, just before lunch para makakauwi rin ng maaga o kaya naman sa king glory na lang kami tumatambay, mejo safe at hindi crowded...

thank God at you are all ok... minsan, it's best na pabayaan na lang kesa masaktan or whatever, but, good thing nabawi ung fon...

God bless and keep safe!

Loida of the 2L3B's said...

Wow ang tagal ko bago nasagot 'to.. Oks lng, naka-recover na si Barley.. heheh.. oo mag-inagat kayo sa Dongemen pls.. Regrds and kisses to Gabe, best regrds to Grande..

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