I Just Got Robbed

[green_the_fish]

I am terrified

I was with two of my friends at a wig store, helping my one friend find a wig. These two women came in started talking to us. They were talking to us for a while, and I got into a conversation about hair and wigs with the two of them. One of them asked me to please go with her friend and check out wigs with her. So, I set down my backpack next to the two friends I came with and went to help her find a wig that she liked. Then I turned around, and my backpack was gone.

We ran out to the parking lot, and I called my phone. One of the women picked it up and answered it. I told her she had my stuff, and she hung up. Then she turned off my phone. I went to one of the guys running the store, and he showed me the security tape. You can clearly see the one woman running straight at the camera.

I called the police and waited for half an hour for them to come. They got the security tape from the guy, and I filed a report with them. I gave them the description of the women and the car they were driving, although I didn't get a license. Then my mother called Verizon and had my phone cancelled. I just got that camera phone the other day, too. Everyone I knew was in it; my contacts weren't backed up anywhere. I also had about $100 in dollars in there, my school ID, and my temporary driver's permit. That's all the ID I have in this world. But worst, I had my keys. I had the keys to where I live!

Now I am terrified that they are going to steal my identity or break into my house. I don't want to go to school tomorrow, I want to stay in my house and guard it. I feel like they are coming to take the rest of my things. No one seems to understand how I feel about this. I don't want to leave the house

[green_the_fish]

Well, it's not really breaking in if they have a key, is it? It's more like walking in!

[waterflow]

That is awful! I would be scared too about them ahving the house key and your address. Did the cops say anything about catching them? I found never to set things down and walk away. I have seen woman (and I live in a small town) getting groceries leave their purse in the cart and walk over to another isle. It is bad when you have to be on guard all the time. What happened to the days when you could leave your doors unlocked and blinds up after night fall? Hope they catch that nasty woman!

[Kara29]

Green,

Getting Robbied is the WORST vilolation of our person!
I am so sorry this happened to you. I am glad you were not hurt physically. I can certainly understand how scared you feel about this. It is going to take some time. Please allow yourself this. If you need to take some time off, that is your right. When you do go back to class I hope that you can let the studies guide you through this rough time. It could be a welcome distraction. Can you have your locks changed?

Warm thoughts and hugs to you!

Kara

[GriffsMommy]

Oh no Green!
I am so sorry to hear about this. I can totally understand how you feel. I would be worried about them coming to my house too. If at all possible get the locks changed and that will give you some piece of mind that the keys they have now won't work once you get the locks changed. Call DMV tomorrow and find out what you need to do to get another license/id, usually they can use something like a birth certificate to get another ID at least that's the way it is in my state, I used to answer the phones for the DMV so I know all about it, lol. I hope w/ your info and the tape they find the horrible women to did this to you.

[littlemyrn]

I agree, get your locks changed asap.

[dancemomof2]

Oh No Fishy, does your cell have a tracking device on it of any kind??

[green_the_fish]

I don't know if does or not. I got it the other day, but it is a slightly older model. I asked the police if they could call it and track it's location, but they said that they couldn't. So, after that, I got my service cancelled, so that the women couldn't make a bunch of calls on my dollar. Which means that I'll have to get my number changed now...

I feel like such an idiot for putting down my backpack to help the woman find a wig. I should have thought that something was up! I am so scared right now, and I can't stop crying. I really just wanted to help as much as I could

[vm]

This link has steps to take to prevent identity theft - at the bottom it provides information about what to do if your credit cards are stolen and so on:

http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/cic_text/money/preventidtheft/preventing.htm

Have you contacted a local news station? Sometimes around here a news station will run a story showing the store surveillance to get the word out in case someone recognizes the thieves.

[GriffsMommy]

That's a good idea Kim, you always see those survillance videos on TV you're right.

[vm]

Here's some quick info:

IF YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION HAS BEEN LOST OR STOLEN

If you’ve lost personal information or identification, or if it has been stolen from you, you can minimize the potential for identity theft if you act quickly.

* Financial accounts: Close accounts, like credit card and bank accounts, immediately. When you open new accounts, place passwords on them. Avoid using your mother’s maiden name, your birth date, the last four digits of your SSN or your phone number, or a series of consecutive numbers.

* Social Security number: Call the toll-free fraud number of any of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies and place an initial fraud alert on your credit reports (see page19). An alert can help stop someone from opening new credit accounts in your name.

* Driver’s license/other government-issued identification: Contact the agency that issued the license or other identification document. Follow its procedures to cancel the document and to get a replacement. Ask the agency to flag your file so that no one else can get a license or any other identification document from them in your name.

Once you have taken these precautions, watch for signs that your information is being misused, and that your identity has been stolen.

If your information has been misused, file a report about the theft with the police, and file a complaint with the FTC, as well. If another crime was committed – for example, if your purse or wallet was stolen or your house or car was broken into – report it to the police immediately.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/...dtheftmini.htm

[ICNDonna]

I do agree it would be a good idea to get the locks rekeyed. I know it's awful to have things stolen --- it's the worst kind of violation. I hope they are caught soon.

Sending gentle hugs,
Donna

[Babs RN]

Many prayers and hugs Fishe that they find your things and arrest the scuzettes.

Hugs,
Barb

[catherine53]

hi, I am so sorry to hear what happened to you today that must have been awfull, I understand how you feel it must make you feel vulnerable, cant you change your locks or anything to make yourself feel a bit better
catherine

[ihurttoo]

Wow, Fishie! I cant get over how brazen they were! I am just glad that you are okay physcially. I see the others have given you great advice. I definately agree with getting the locks changed asap. I also love Kim's idea about calling the media and having it put on the local Crimestoppers links. I hope you get your stuff replaced soon and they find and prosecute those thieves. Hugs, Amy