My backpack was snatched off my back while I was walking home this evening. I'm all right, and the credit cards are cancelled, and a police report filed, and fortunately I had both my phone and my house keys out of the bag and in my hand, so I'm not nearly so far up the creek as I could be, but it sucks.

I'd been doing a spot of shopping, and was walking home while talking to my mother on the cell. As I crossed a street just a few blocks from home I noted two teenage boys in black hoodies loitering by a stop sign. As I crossed the street towards them I noted idly that I didn't know there was a bus that ran along that street - because surely they must be waiting for a bus. I had a bad feeling about them, though. And a few seconds after I passed them, I heard someone walking behind me. Frightened now, I stepped off the curb and started crossing the street to get away. I was still partially expecting the guy to walk past, I think, but I could hear/feel him following me into the street. Then I was really frightened, so much so that when the jolt of him grabbing my bag came I was relieved. It wasn't a knife, wasn't a gun, wasn't words that I'd need to find a response to. Just my bag, he just wants my bag.

There was a brief tug of war - probably even briefer than I remember it, since time was moving at the tectonic-plate pace it sometimes does. Then the thought floated through my mind - Idiot! You always let them have your bag! That's how you don't die! - and I let go. I think I was thrown off balance, but I don't really remember. I didn't even really see the guy running off with my bag. I only remember looking at my phone to see if my mom was still there, and seeing the No Service sign.

Two women were across the street, each walking two dogs. They'd seen the whole thing. One snapped me out of my shock by calling out and asking if I was all right.

"He took my bag," I answered stupidly.

"I know. I saw the whole thing," she replied.

Fumbling, I managed to dial 911 on my cell, but kept pressing pound instead of send. Then my mother called back. She somehow refrained from calling back again after I said "Someone just took my bag. I need to call the police." The second time I managed to successfully call, and also to answer the nice dispatcher's questions relatively clearly. Well, I did first blurt out "Is this Philadelphia?" but that's because I still have my out-of-state cell number and I've heard tales of woe about calling the wrong 911 location. But it was Philadelphia, and the police were there in minutes, to take my story and the corroborating information of the two women who'd seen the whole thing, and then to drive me around the neighborhood in the hopes that we'd see the perps.

To make a long story short, we didn't. They took me to hq to talk to a lieutenant, who I'm hoping was rather new because he seemed to have a hard time thinking of what questions to ask me about the incident, and finally I got a ride home (in the back of a police car, again) and could call to cancel my credit card and bank cards and request a new health insurance card. And call my parents to allay their concerns. And call my boss to tell her that I'd lost my work keys and is there anyone I should call at home about that. (She says no.)

I lost some important and valuable stuff, most notably a palm pilot and a brand-new (as in 'paid for at 5:30 pm today') pair of Old Navy pants. But I'm okay. And I have my house keys. So really, I have a lot to be thankful for, and I am. I just really wish I hadn't spent that $30 on those pants today.

From: [identity profile] prosicated.livejournal.com


Eep! I'm sorry to hear that!
The most convincing argument I can think of for the rather hopeless lieutenant is that he was smitten by your looks, charm, intellect, and composure, and thus ran out of words.
My mother had her bag stolen a few months ago and was able to get refunded for purchases she had made just prior to the robbery. Did you buy the pants with one of the cards that was stolen? She told her CC company the truth and they refunded her the price of the books (I think, in her case) as well.

From: [identity profile] kivrin.livejournal.com


I did! That's a good idea. I shall call the credit card company folks again and find out. I do have a copy of the police report that I can fax them as proof that the pants were in the bag that was stolen.

Thanks!


From: [identity profile] prosicated.livejournal.com


Hope it works, that's at least $30 dollars toward the rest of the crap.
If you ahve renter's insurance you might check with them about replacing belongings like CDs and palm pilot, too.

I try to be full of useful suggestions, as I'm bad at comfort... *hug*

From: [identity profile] kivrin.livejournal.com


*hugs back*

Hugs are good.

No renter's insurance, unfortunately... I should get me some of that. You're the third person to mention that it could be handy in such situations.

From: [identity profile] kelilah.livejournal.com


Eep! Man, I'm glad you're okay, for starters. And that you at least still have your phone and house keys. But suckage.

::hugs::

From: [identity profile] kivrin.livejournal.com


::hugs back::

Thanks. Yeah, suckage. I missed Veronica Mars, too! Darn it!
ext_6373: A swan and a ballerina from an old children's book about ballet, captioned SWAN! (elle)

From: [identity profile] annlarimer.livejournal.com


Holy Toledo! I'm so glad you're okay.

I can't imagine what I'd do, except call futiley after them: "It's full of back issues of Toyfare and tampons, you idiots!"

From: [identity profile] kivrin.livejournal.com


LOL! Yeah, I'm sure he's really loving my folky cds, generic tylenol, and pantiliners.

Thanks.

From: [identity profile] kivrin.livejournal.com


*mews quietly in return*

*gratefully accepts tea and wesley!snuggles*

*offers giles!snuggles in return*
.

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