A simple meal at Oyster Boy restaurant on MetroWalk resulted in a stolen laptop earlier this week. The whole incident was caught by the restaurant’s closed-circuit television cameras (CCTV), but up until now, the thief has yet to be apprehended. The video below shows a man wearing a white shirt and khaki shorts entering the restaurant and sitting at a table next to the victim and his friends. On the far right of the screen, a laptop bag can be clearly seen lying against the victim’s chair. In subsequent frames, the thief nudges the laptop bag with his foot, bringing it closer and closer to his table. Waitresses and other people pass by unaware. The victim’s friend, whose seat is directly adjacent to the laptop bag, also remains oblivious. In less than two minutes, the thief is seen slipping the laptop out of the victim’s bag into his own, then standing up and walking away nonchalantly. All of this is completely unnoticed by any of the restaurant’s patrons.
Watch the video and tell us what you think:
Have you ever been the victim of a modus operandi? Safeguard your valuables in public places by following these 5 tips.
1. ALWAYS BE AWARE OF WHERE YOU PUT YOUR BAG.
Your bag is one of your most prized possessions—it contains your wallet, your cellphone, and most of your other valuables—so make sure you know where it is at all times. Place it on your lap when you’re dining in restaurants. If you really have to put it down, keep it close (don’t hang it from the side of your seat, where people are passing by!). If you have a shoulder or tote bag and you’re walking around, avoid swinging your bag backward. Also make sure the end of the zipper is facing you, so that you can immediately see if someone tries to tug it open. For backpacks, you can wear them with the straps at your back and the actual bag in front.
2. AVOID SLEEPING WHEN YOU TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.
Even though it’s tempting to snooze on the way to or from work, be aware that if you fall asleep, you are more prone to getting victimized by snatchers. This is especially true for buses, jeeps, and train lines. You don’t want to wake up at the end of your MRT commute only to realize you’re wearing your earphones—with no iPod! Especially avoid this if you’re going home really late. Slashers and snatchers can easily open your bag when your defenses are down, and if you wake up and catch him red-handed, who knows what can happen to you?
3. SPLIT YOUR CASH INTO SEVERAL COMPARTMENTS.
Make use of your pockets, bag compartments, etc. If the only place you put your money in is your purse, you won’t have any cash to spare in the event that you do get victimized by a thief. You can also try keeping a small amount of back-up money locked up in your work cubicle so that you’ll always have a fund you can use in emergencies.
4. DON’T TEXT WHILE WALKING.
Texting occupies your senses and leaves you vulnerable to thieves. Typically, a person who texts while she's walking will have her bag open because she's just taken out her phone and probably plans to replace it when she's done. She will also not be paying attention to the people around her. This situation is ideal for snatchers. One might just run by while you’re using your cellphone and grab it out of your hands (and your bag too, for good measure).
5. BE NATURALLY CAUTIOUS.
A healthy level of caution does not make you paranoid, so always stay alert and be aware of what’s going on around you. If someone you don’t know randomly tries to approach you or talk to you, have your defenses up. Also read up on the news to see what modus operandi thieves are up to these days. It pays to be prepared so bring a small container of pepper spray or pocket tear gas with you at all times, especially if you’re a commuter.
(Screencap from teddypork via Youtube)
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