[Paisleychick-lj] Robbed again

[Beatrice M's blog]

[![][1]][2]   
[Money][3]   
Originally uploaded by [Beatrice M][4]. 

I was out with a bunch of people from Couchsurfing this afternoon taking photographs on a walking tour of Corrientes. I was having a good time talking with folks, snapping shots and trying to keep up with the group as I kept on stopping to take pics. I was talking with one guy who asked me about the safety level of Buenos Aires. "Oh, it's safe. Just like any big city, you have to be aware".   
  
Yeah, I have to be aware. Somewhere between 9 de Julio and Uruguay streets some (&*%^9er opened up my backpack and stole my wallet. I was stoooooopid and had ALL my credit cards in there. I also didn't have any money stashed anywhere else in my backpack. It was all organized in my wallet. Luckily I was with a group of friends who lent me 20 pesos so that I could go home and follow up canceling my credit cards after Kragen started the process. All of them have been canceled and new ones are being shipped out. None of the cards had been used, but it's a big-time PITA to have them all sent out to Bolinas and then brought here. Hopefully they will arrive in time before [![[info]][5]][6][**eqe**][7] comes for a visit on the 19th. I can't replace my driver's license until I show myself at the DMV. Don't know when that will next be. A photocopy of my passport will have to do instead....  
  
I was angry - with the _ladron_, but also with myself. I was disappointed in myself for not being more aware of my surroundings. I did feel something with my backpack, but didn't investigate because I didn't listen to that voice in the back of my head. I should have turned around right then. I went through various stages - shock, anger, disappointment, and general grumpiness. Kragen was wonderful and made me tea when I came home.   
  
I now have a new game plan:  
1 - only take the credit cards I need to have with me  
2 - only have a small amount of cash with me  
3 - put my wallet in a more secure place  
4 - keep emergency cash and coins outside of wallet  
5 - pay attention to the voice in the back of my head  
  
>From the robberies that we've experienced here in Buenos Aires, it seems that the thieves are just after the easy money and not identity theft, which would be much more lucrative, but is more work. Kragen's laptop was stolen for the laptop and I think my wallet was just stolen for the money and then probably tossed. I hope the robber buys rotten food and gets food poisoning. phbbbbttttttt  


   [1]: http://farm1.static.flickr.com/232/495626950_d7ff73af73_m.jpg
   [2]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/495626950/ (photo sharing)
   [3]: http://www.flickr.com/photos/blmurch/495626950/
   [4]: http://www.flickr.com/people/blmurch/
   [5]: http://stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif
   [6]: http://eqe.livejournal.com/profile
   [7]: http://eqe.livejournal.com/

URL: http://paisleychick.livejournal.com/335191.html