Someone just tried to con me

[hogmaw]

I just arrived home from work and parked outside in the street as usual (not in Supra). A young, rough-looking woman came up to me with a pound coin and said 'I've lost my phone somewhere round here, can I give you a pound to borrow yours so I can call it and see if I can hear it ring or if someone answers'. She seemed very earnest and overly apologetic, just like a beggar or a crack head.

 

Normally they just ask for money etc and I ignore them. But this was a new line so I decided to see where it led. I took my phone out of my pocket and she seemed very eager to take it. 'Oh no' I said, 'Tell me the number, I'll call it.'

 

She looked disappointed and read out the number. I asked her name and she said 'Norma' or something. I called the number and a man answered. I said 'I have a girl here called Norma who has lost her phone. We're on Gordon Rd, come and meet her by the post box so she can get it back'. The man said OK and that was that.

 

She went to wait by the post box, uttering all kinds of profuse thank yous, and I went into our house and just as a went inside I saw a van pull up by the post box.

 

It's hard to think on your feet sometimes. But looking back it's quite clear now that she would have made off with my phone to the van waiting round the corner. If I had chased her I would have had to have dealt with the heavies in the van. I wonder what they will come up with next.

[Axle]

Welldone dude.

 

You would have been victim number 385.. Of the day. I suspect.

[JamieP]

Give the mans number to the police.

[SteveR]

Give the mans number to the police.

good plan that man

[Supra-Brett]

Good on yer, dont trust anyone like that. Its sad, but it has to be that way nowadays

[benkei]

Make sure you can fun faster than she can!

It's a shame how some people are kind enough to help someone who seems in need, only to be conned. Then people wonder why no one will give you the time of day anymore!

 

Definately report it to the police.

[hogmaw]

But there was no crime committed, so what can the police do?

[benkei]

Isn't conning people and stealing their possesions illegal? Think I might have a new money maker in my spare time

You can get arrested for 'intent', which until the ACTUALLY steal a phone, they are out and proactive with the intent to steal. Also, I bet they have a fair few stolen phones in that van too.

[DaveK]

Isn't conning people and stealing their possesions illegal? Think I might have a new money maker in my spare time

You can get arrested for 'intent', which until the ACTUALLY steal a phone, they are out and proactive with the intent to steal. Also, I bet they have a fair few stolen phones in that van too.

 

She didn't steal anything.

 

And you would have absolutely zero chance of proving that she intended to.

[Kranz]

Going equipped for theft:

 

date and location

not at his/her place of abode

had with him/her an article

for use in course of/connection with any theft

 

Pound coin is the article

[SilverSoop]

Wow!

 

Well done mate, good thinking...

[RiceRocket]

Give the mans number to the police.

 

Nah, register the number for some interesting premium stuff.... Unless you don't enable 'withhold caller number' on your phone.

[Chewie]

I had one better than that. A woman came to my house. Rings the bell. I answer. She hands me a card with something about here being deaf and dumb. Will I buy a picture off her for a £5. She reaches into a satchel and pulls out these blatantly photocopied pencil doodlings. I say no thank you. She turns the card round and it reads something like please give me £1 then. I gave a 50p. Tnen as she walked up the drive I shouted "You dropped something". I swear for a split second she flinched but carried on walking.

[ilicos]

But there was no crime committed, so what can the police do?

 

If there were similar cases in the area, then they at least have that number and even if it is not registered, they can pinpoint it through triangulating the signal to the nearest phone masts.

 

Any lead is better than no lead.

 

ilicos

[Gaz Walker]

Tnen as she walked up the drive I shouted "You dropped something". I swear for a split second she flinched but carried on walking.

 

Nice tactic

[Pete]

She hands me a card with something about here being deaf and dumb.

 

I'm never too sure what to think about these people. On one hand they're preying on your sympathies, on the other they're so desperate for money they have to do this.

 

I watched in Rhodes the other week as a man went from table to table with his lighters, toys and LED torches leaving one and 'the card'. Most people picked them up, played with them, took up his time asking about them - but no-one bought one.

Then I saw him do the same in the next restaurant - again without a sale.

 

A local stopped an obviously knew him and they communicated in a fashion that indicated he did actually have problems. It made me think how many of these items does he sell for a few megre euros? How much could he actually make off each sale? How long did he do this every night?

 

For all you can say about these people, at least they're doing something relatively harmless to try and sustain themselves which isn't illegal...and what does 5 euros really mean to me?