Vallerina 2 #1 February 23, 2004 I'm just writing this post as a warning to all. Please don't call me dumb, because I'm already well aware of that. I don't really need/want any pity, since the free buffet we got was all the pity I needed! (I can't remember how many desserts I had!) Saturday afternoon, we went to go check into the Trump hotel in beautiful Gary, IN. Unfortunately, we were a bit early, so they told us to come back in 2 hours and our room would be ready. Their trick of getting us to head to the casino boats worked, and we went to entertain ourselves for a few. We headed to the emptier side of the craps table, I pulled my wallet out, threw $20 on the table for some chips, and put my wallet back in my coat pocket (which was in front of me over my arm.) I lost as much as I was comfortable with losing, and I went to go get my wallet. It was gone!!!! I knew right then that it had been stolen, but we checked the ground first before telling security. I told the guy my story, and he was going to go check the tapes. While he was talking to the surveillance people, wildblue searched the premises for shady looking people with my wallet (they have atms there that don't require a pin when you use your credit card...it made me nervous), and I called my credit cards' customer service to cancel both of them. The security guy came back informing me that the cameras in the casino do not have a good shot of me or the person to my left. Unfortunately, the cameras got absolutely nothing but the table. So, I filled out a police report, we searched the garbage cans, but my wallet will never be mine again. They gave us a free dinner that night at the buffet (I asked for some alcohol because I really needed some at that point. I didn't get it). I didn't lose much. I only had another $20 in my wallet (they probably thought they'd be stealing much more. I laugh at them for that.) There had been no use on my credit cards. Somebody actually found one of my credit cards and turned it in (that was the only thing found, though.) Just a warning to all: be careful!!! I usually carry my purse over my shoulder, and I keep my hand over my purse. I've managed to go to many places and Marshall Field's downtown during the Christmas season and never have any problems. I'm old, so the lights and noise at the casino must've confused me! I really thought, "That will never happen to me!" It did. I feel dumb. At least I don't carry much cash ever. Never let your guard down when it comes to your money!There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
flyangel2 2 #2 February 23, 2004 Val, So sorry to hear this May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. - Edward Abbey Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
boxingrrl 0 #3 February 23, 2004 Damn... I'm dumb, too. Happened to me at Logan Airport in Boston. It sucks that there are people out there who skate through life by stealing from others. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bmcd308 0 #4 February 23, 2004 You're not dumb. I have watched a former professional pickpocket who had become a professional entertainer / pickpocket. He was the entertainment at a restaurant when my family was on vacation, and he came to the table, talked to us for a while and told us that he was a magician pickpocket, shook everyone's hands, did a disappearing act with my dad's watch that was very impressive, then gave dad's watch back. Then he gave me mine back, and he gave my sister back the lipstick from her purse. I was about 13, and I have no idea how or when he got my watch. My sister was shocked, too. Point is - people can get really good at anything they put their minds to. Brent ---------------------------------- www.jumpelvis.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mcneill79 0 #5 February 23, 2004 I'm dumb too... I've "misplaced" my wallet too many times. There was the time at the Dallas airport. The night when I was out at a bar. Damn alcohol, makes me do stupid things Oh yeah and then there was the time it fell out of my bag at Kmart. Luckily this little girl found it and gave it to her dad and he was nice enough to come to my house and drop it off, with everything still in it. It was proof to me that there are still nice honest people out there Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Guest #6 February 23, 2004 That sucks. I'm sorry it happened. Location plays a role. Anytime I'm in a crowd, I put my wallet in my front pocket and leave my watch at home (I've considered making a booby-trapped wallet just for fun, tho ). Places like "the Trump Hotel" in a dump like Gary Ind. are magnets for professional thieves. Vegas is crawling with them. Please read "Oliver Twist" and watch "The Great Train Robbery" (M Crichton, dir.) for the psychology of it all. Better informed is better armed. BTW Fagin was hanged. mh ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites WrongWay 0 #7 February 23, 2004 That sucks Val, and no you're not dumb, it's just the person next to you was a scumbag. Vibes and much love to ya girlie. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites jessefs 0 #8 February 23, 2004 Don't feel bad Val, I once had $500 in cash taken out of my front jacket pocket (super-retard place to put the money). I had just borrowed the money to get my car fixed and stopped at Target before going to the bank to deposit the cash. Don't feel too bad, trust me....this felt worse. Jesse <* Spread the Love! *> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Deuce 1 #9 February 23, 2004 I'm glad it wasn't a lot worse. Pro pickpocket teams, like the ones that can operate in an environment like a casino, are just about undetectable. It happens, sorry it happened to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites RoadRash 0 #10 February 23, 2004 Val, that sucks!!!!!!!! YOU ARE NOT DUMB!!!! I have had a lot of friends not pay attention to what they are doing and lose/or have stolen their purses, cell phones, wallets, etc. all because they were distracted. I was lucky, when I was younger, I lost my wallet, but a friend of mine from my HS (I was at Six Flags) found it and returned it...boy was I lucky...!! Take it easy...at least he only got $20...what a loser...(literally......) Take it easy!!~R+R~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Vallerina 2 #11 February 23, 2004 QuotePro pickpocket teams, like the ones that can operate in an environment like a casino, are just about undetectable. This is what's the most annoying: I can still see a vague picture of the one guy that stood next to me. He wasn't there long. He only played a time or two (my guess was that when he put money on the table, he reached for my wallet). But they don't have video of anything! Grrr... Yeah, I should've been on my guard better. I was paranoid the whole time I was in Spain. I'm paranoid whenever I walk to work. I'm paranoid in malls. I should've been more paranoid when I go to a place that's known for having people carrying large amounts of cash. I should've just taken my id and thrown my cash in my front pocket. (My jeans are tighter. If anyone tried to pickpocket out of those, I have a feeling wildblue or I would notice! )There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Guest #12 February 23, 2004 QuoteThis is what's the most annoying: I can still see a vague picture of the one guy that stood next to me. He wasn't there long. He only played a time or two (my guess was that when he put money on the table, he reached for my wallet). But they don't have video of anything! Grrr... You can bet that douchebag knew exactly where the cameras were, their field of view, etc. Oh well, doom on him. mh ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites wildblue 7 #13 February 23, 2004 QuoteHe only played a time or two (my guess was that when he put money on the table, he reached for my wallet). He probably lost $20 at the table... I wonder if breaking even was worth the karma loss.it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Join the conversation You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible. Reply to this topic... × Pasted as rich text. Paste as plain text instead Only 75 emoji are allowed. × Your link has been automatically embedded. Display as a link instead × Your previous content has been restored. Clear editor × You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL. Insert image from URL × Desktop Tablet Phone Submit Reply 0
Guest #6 February 23, 2004 That sucks. I'm sorry it happened. Location plays a role. Anytime I'm in a crowd, I put my wallet in my front pocket and leave my watch at home (I've considered making a booby-trapped wallet just for fun, tho ). Places like "the Trump Hotel" in a dump like Gary Ind. are magnets for professional thieves. Vegas is crawling with them. Please read "Oliver Twist" and watch "The Great Train Robbery" (M Crichton, dir.) for the psychology of it all. Better informed is better armed. BTW Fagin was hanged. mh ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WrongWay 0 #7 February 23, 2004 That sucks Val, and no you're not dumb, it's just the person next to you was a scumbag. Vibes and much love to ya girlie. Wrong Way D #27371 Mal Manera Rodriguez Cajun Chicken Ø Hellfish #451 The wiser wolf prevails. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jessefs 0 #8 February 23, 2004 Don't feel bad Val, I once had $500 in cash taken out of my front jacket pocket (super-retard place to put the money). I had just borrowed the money to get my car fixed and stopped at Target before going to the bank to deposit the cash. Don't feel too bad, trust me....this felt worse. Jesse <* Spread the Love! *> Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Deuce 1 #9 February 23, 2004 I'm glad it wasn't a lot worse. Pro pickpocket teams, like the ones that can operate in an environment like a casino, are just about undetectable. It happens, sorry it happened to you. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RoadRash 0 #10 February 23, 2004 Val, that sucks!!!!!!!! YOU ARE NOT DUMB!!!! I have had a lot of friends not pay attention to what they are doing and lose/or have stolen their purses, cell phones, wallets, etc. all because they were distracted. I was lucky, when I was younger, I lost my wallet, but a friend of mine from my HS (I was at Six Flags) found it and returned it...boy was I lucky...!! Take it easy...at least he only got $20...what a loser...(literally......) Take it easy!!~R+R~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Fly the friendly skies...^_^...})ii({...^_~... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vallerina 2 #11 February 23, 2004 QuotePro pickpocket teams, like the ones that can operate in an environment like a casino, are just about undetectable. This is what's the most annoying: I can still see a vague picture of the one guy that stood next to me. He wasn't there long. He only played a time or two (my guess was that when he put money on the table, he reached for my wallet). But they don't have video of anything! Grrr... Yeah, I should've been on my guard better. I was paranoid the whole time I was in Spain. I'm paranoid whenever I walk to work. I'm paranoid in malls. I should've been more paranoid when I go to a place that's known for having people carrying large amounts of cash. I should've just taken my id and thrown my cash in my front pocket. (My jeans are tighter. If anyone tried to pickpocket out of those, I have a feeling wildblue or I would notice! )There's a thin line between Saturday night and Sunday morning Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest #12 February 23, 2004 QuoteThis is what's the most annoying: I can still see a vague picture of the one guy that stood next to me. He wasn't there long. He only played a time or two (my guess was that when he put money on the table, he reached for my wallet). But they don't have video of anything! Grrr... You can bet that douchebag knew exactly where the cameras were, their field of view, etc. Oh well, doom on him. mh ."The mouse does not know life until it is in the mouth of the cat." Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
wildblue 7 #13 February 23, 2004 QuoteHe only played a time or two (my guess was that when he put money on the table, he reached for my wallet). He probably lost $20 at the table... I wonder if breaking even was worth the karma loss.it's like incest - you're substituting convenience for quality Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
