TO BE OGLED BY STRANGERS.
By Kandase
@Kandae11 (55035)
May 24, 2017 2:13pm CST
A certain businessman had just pulled out of a gas station after purchasing gas and chatting for a few minutes on his cell phone. He stopped at a traffic light, and before you could blink twice - a hand appeared through the open car window and snatched the phone which he had placed on the seat beside him.
Before what occurred was fully registered - the thief was gone, the light turned green, and he was forced to drive on.
Now, what angered him the most about the phone being stolen -wasn't the cost of replacing it, but what was in it. He said that he felt violated and sickened at the thought that strangers would be ogling or staring at personal pictures of his wife and children - as well as other personal mementos .
I also store personal pictures in my phone and I am now thinking that I should remove them. What if my phone is stolen or lost? Do you store personal pictures or anything of real importance in your cellphone?
32 people like this
36 responses
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
25 May 17
the incident you mentioned in your discussion happened to my kid brother. he followed the snatcher but he noticed the other men were staring at him, so my brother went back to his car. he immediately called the network to cancel his subscription. now my brother just said the snatcher has a very expensive paper weight, since he cannot use the phone anymore.
3 people like this
@jobelbojel (35646)
• Philippines
25 May 17
@Kandae11 so true. Thanks to the technology. When I was working for T-Mobile, I received many calls reported that their phones were lost or stolen. We canceled their lines, blocked the IMEI.
2 people like this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
27 May 17
@Kandae11 there are many notorious people all around here, much more in the capital city. that is why it was good my brother did not pursue the snatcher anymore. the phone is a plan, so he just took a new one from the telephone company
1 person likes this
@much2say (55665)
• Los Angeles, California
24 May 17
That's so crazy that is happening in cars now . . . recently I had been reading it had been a problem as people were walking and being on the phone. I do have some photos on my phone - I still mostly take photos on my digital camera but still there are personal photos on my phone. It's possible my windows are still open from when I was last on the internet. And then there is my contact info. Otherwise I don't use calendars and such to keep any personal notes. There might not be a whole lot on my phone, but just the fact that someone snatched and stole it like that would make me feel violated.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (180846)
• United States
25 May 17
There is banking information and private messages on there. I would hate to have my phone stolen!
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (180846)
• United States
25 May 17
@Kandae11 Yes, I am a little paranoid about losing my phone, and leaving it in the car accidentally concerns me too.
@allknowing (136541)
• India
25 May 17
I only have a basic phone that does not take nor store pictures
1 person likes this
@allknowing (136541)
• India
26 May 17
@Kandae11 I will never compromise when it comes to capturing images. Photography is my passion.
@Kandae11 (55035)
•
26 May 17
@allknowing Cellphone pictures are quick and easy - but it is more professional when you use a real camera.
1 person likes this
@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
24 May 17
That really is a shocking turn of events, and yes, we use our smartphones for so many things, I think it would be most upsetting if someone got hold of it and could freely access its contents...
As an aside, did you know that if you are involved in an auto accident, the police can take your phone and analyse it in the utmost detail, as it can give them information about what was happening, how fast ind in what direction the vehicle you were in was travelling, who and when you last called or sent an SMS/text from the phone.... Agh!
Remember what your mum might have said about wearing clean underpants every day, for you never know when you might be in a situation where a nurse, doctor or other suitably-qualified person may have cause to see them... 
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
25 May 17
I still have a dumb phone and doubt that anyone would want to steal it. Therefore, most of my pictures are of flowers or scenery around me. I do have a few of my family, but since I doubt anyone would want my phone...
I was going to say that's why there are locks on the phone and such, but you wouldn't expect a hand to come through and steal it from the inside of your car while you're on the road. I'm sure that is a one in a million occurrence. And who locks their phone each time they put it in their pocket or away from their faces?
1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38865)
• Midland, Michigan
30 May 17
@Kandae11 That's not good, but if it happens that often then people should know to not roll their windows down all the way and to take care of their belonging so no one gets them.
1 person likes this
@Kandae11 (55035)
•
30 May 17
@MarshaMusselman Exactly, they do, but one can slip up sometimes.
1 person likes this
@just4him (317089)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
25 May 17
That's horrible that happened to him. I only have a couple pictures in my phone. They're there because I can't download them to my e-mail or anywhere else. My phone is talk and text only, even with all the great features it has, I can't use them.
2 people like this
@diosabella (4789)
•
25 May 17
I've been robbed before so I tend not to put a lot of personal things in my cellphone. I also made nicknames for the names of my family so the robber won't pick them on my contact list just like that.
1 person likes this
@diosabella (4789)
•
25 May 17
@Kandae11 I heard that from one of my classmate that he was been robbed before me and the robber called his mom and sis and told them that they have him and the off them with some money. Scary.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
25 May 17
I'm just wondering, can they access the pictures without the pass code?
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
26 May 17
I don't have a camera on my phone as it is a very basic unit for calls and texts - such a thief would be very dissappointed by it
1 person likes this
@jobelbojel (35646)
• Philippines
25 May 17
I would at least not put too personal stuff on my phone example credit card number, social, and passwords. That thief is fast as the lightning.
1 person likes this
@FayeHazel (40243)
• United States
25 May 17
I don't use my cell much for other than phone calls, but I understand if I would have a lot of personal stuff on there. I would look into storing my files in a different place.
1 person likes this
@Slayqueen (918)
• India
25 May 17
You don't have to delete your pictures from your phone. It's alright. Incase it gets stolen then I know the theif will delete it. Anyway in this age, lost phones can be found easily.
1 person likes this
