Well this is all very inconvenient

phoenix

phoenix

New member
Well this is all very inconvenient!
I was stopped by two thugs on my way home [I was in Beatty Road], who insisted that I hand over my cellphone and empty out my pockets for them.
Naturally, I obliged. Thankfully, they were not at all interested in my debit card, but helped themselves to the contents of the bank bag containing the change from Beatty House Grocery money [R14]. They also took the R10 note and handful of coins I had in my wallet before continuing up the road in search of new prey. I shall be going out with my brother to have my number blacklisted, and of course borrowing money from my family to replace the Beatty House Grocery change.

I guess I am going to have to pay people to give me lifts to work and back in future as well as to Vincent Park when I am on grocery duty, paranoid as it may sound....

Like my mother, I am a prisoner in my own home. A pity. I do so love going for walks.

I am not traumatised, in fact, some things at work make me feel worse than this, funnily enough!

My mom has an old Nokia 3310 lying around at home that I can use once can get to a Cell C/Vodacom/MTN outlet and get a RICAd sim card. Pity that I still have to pay the R140 p.m. for my top-up contract until December. :mad:

The Price of Freedom is Eternal Vigilance


 
Sorry to hear about your awful experience, glad you are ok.

Regarding your phone contract, why not replace the sim instead of having to go prepaid? I'm not sure I fully understand your reasoning here.
 
phoenix said:
Like my mother, I am a prisoner in my own home. A pity. I do so love going for walks
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I know what you mean. I hate being hassled by drunks, druggies, degenerates with knives, beggars (they can get f*cking aggressive if you don't give into their demands) and the like, roaming around looking to intimidate people and so on. I used to like walking, just for the exercise. It just isn't a peaceful experience though. You have to be on your guard, constantly. I so envy people in places where they can go for walks, even at night, and have nothing to fear.

That's probably why a significant number of people in SA are overweight, because they know there's just too much damn risk in going anywhere on foot.
 
MissileToe said:
I know what you mean. I hate being hassled by drunks, druggies, degenerates with knives, beggars (they can get f*cking aggressive if you don't give into their demands) and the like, roaming around looking to intimidate people and so on. I used to like walking, just for the exercise. It just isn't a peaceful experience though. You have to be on your guard, constantly. I so envy people in places where they can go for walks, even at night, and have nothing to fear.

That's probably why a significant number of people in SA are overweight, because they know there's just too much damn risk in going anywhere on foot.
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A lot of Europe is like that but you still have to keep your eyes peeled you will always get the thug. Just here it happens way to much. I haven't been robbed while walking thankfully I keep an eye out for the bandits. I use to walk home at 1 am or 2 am from the local pub, sometimes walk a 2 hour walk at that time.

I run a lot though in the evenings. You just have to be street smart in the end. Stay a way from other people who are walking watch people who are near you and avoid them.

And phoenix atleast you didn't get hurt.

also you can get mugged in a car so nowhere is really safe here.
 
Tsar said:
You just have to be street smart in the end. Stay a way from other people who are walking watch people who are near you and avoid them.
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Yes, mother. :p

Also, don't make eye contact. That can piss some people off.

Tsar said:
also you can get mugged in a car so nowhere is really safe here.
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True. To be honest, I haven't been robbed either... yet, knock on wood. But I have definitely been hassled, even threatened with knives and so on. But it's more of a flick the knife out and show it to you sort of thing, rather than a stick in in your face kind of thing.

I usually carry knives and even mace with me, but haven't had to use them. They're talking about passing a law here that will prohibit you from doing that, carrying weapons for the purpose of self-defence. But I'll do it until the day that law is passed. Maybe even beyond that. The main reason I do it is because of the f*cking dogs around that owners leave outside their houses.
 
I was astounded by the freedom that the Dutch have when I went over there. I had dinner with some friends and afterwards, a woman opted to walk me to the tram station at 9pm, through a park. No worries. Prisoners, I tell you.

That sucks Phoenix, sorry to hear mate.
 
TheAvenged87 said:
I was astounded by the freedom that the Dutch have when I went over there. I had dinner with some friends and afterwards, a woman opted to walk me to the tram station at 9pm, through a park. No worries. Prisoners, I tell you.

That sucks Phoenix, sorry to hear mate.
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Not only the Dutch... Old biddies frequently take the trains, buses and cycle about quite happily in the evenings here.

The most you need to be concerned with out here is pick-pockets who work so swiftly you'd never even notice anything happened until much later.

Something I don't miss about home is the constant paranoia you're pretty much raised with. Even here I still have that paranoia and to people here it seems silly :p

@ OP -- All the same, material things are material and can be replaced; your life is priceless and cannot be. Glad you're in one piece and I sincerely hope it never happens again.
 
Sorry about that man. It sucks. My friend was attacked in Berea by 2 muggers too but he is a mid level Judo guy and turned them into pretzels:D
 
Soz to hear phoenix :(

I know how much it sucks to have your shit taken from you by low life scum. Even though people tell you, hell, even though you tell yourself - at least you are unhurt, it doesn't change it being something terrible to have experienced. Sorry man.
 
Good youre okay and not much poorer. Had two similar experiences, in 2012 and earlier this year, after that I changed my usualy routine, but still i most often traverse to and from work during evening hours. Be careful out there and yes be aware of everyones movements around you, anything that you notice to seem a little off, probably is!
 
I know how it feels to feel like a prisoner in your own home. My brother and I moved into a bigger flat on Wednesday and then on Thursday (after one day here) they tried to break in, twice. The first time was during the day somewhere between 12:00 and 14:00 (not sure exactly) while I was at home. I was sitting at my PC playing Skyrim when I heard the distinct sound of metal hitting against something. I got up and walked into the living room and I saw two guys standing outside the kitchen window with one of them having opened both the side and upper window (there are burglar bars luckily) and his one hand was on the inside. It looked like he was trying to open the curtain so he could see into the flat (you can see right through to the living room) and as I walked into the kitchen the other guy saw me and they ran away. We only had one set of keys and my brother took them with him when he left (after locking) so I couldn't get out of the flat to see where they ran off to and maybe see how they got inside the complex.

Thursday morning when my brother left to go see a client he noticed that someone tried to force open our security gate during the night (the latch thingy was broken and it wasn't like that when we went to bed). Needless to say yesterday we went to builders warehouse to buy a bunch of new locks and stuff (for both the security gate and front door) and next week we are having an alarm installed. The worst part about this for me is that I am now constantly wondering when they will be coming back to try again and the fact that I am already a somewhat paranoid person doesn't help much. I still can't believe that it happened a day after moving in.

Glad the OP is fine after his horrible experience, I have also been mugged in the passed and had my cellphone stolen by a random guy asking to use it to call his mom. That was my own stupidity though. It was my bday and I was in a good mood. I was walking home and a kid (looked about 17) stopped me and asked if he could maybe phone his mom from my phone since his' battery was dead and he needed her to come pick him up. I thought why not and a few seconds after giving him my phone he just ran off with it. I chased him for about 2 blocks but due to me being a smoker and (very unfit too boot) I never had a chance of catching him. Felt like a total idiot for a while.
 
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Thanks guys.

I didn't think of the sim-swap idea. I'll see if I can join a group going to Vincent Park tomorrow so that I can pop into the Cell C store.
What will I need to take with me other than ID, proof of residence, and my Nokia 1208?

It has been too long since I did much work. Had a bad time at work last year, and am trying really hard this year. :o
 
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phoenix said:
Thanks guys.

I didn't think of the sim-swap idea. I'll see if I can join a group going to Vincent Park tomorrow so that I can pop into the Cell C store.
What will I need to take with me other than ID, proof of residence, and my Nokia 1208?
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That should cover it.
 
That sucks hey.

Have you notified the police and your neighbors about this?
Helps to let people know what's happening in their neighborhood.
 
Seriously? R14 and a cellphone. Why dont these people just go and work or beg. They always have to steal from people who work hard for there stuff.

This country. Eish
 
jarred said:
Seriously? R14 and a cellphone. Why dont these people just go and work or beg. They always have to steal from people who work hard for there stuff.

This country. Eish
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Well it is kinda hard to count the cash in wallet in someones pocket before you mug them
 
Sorry to hear about this. The crime levels are becoming scary. Just last week my neighbour was attacked in her home with a garden fork by a guy she'd hired to do her garden for the day. He left with nothing.
 
KofDelight said:
That sucks hey.

Have you notified the police and your neighbors about this?
Helps to let people know what's happening in their neighborhood.
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Police? Hahahaha..... This is East London. I have no faith in our so-called "services"

I have, however, posted on Crimespotter Buffalo City's Facebook Page.
 
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