[thePurpleGiant]

I'm sad. Yes, very sad. Sad because Kate is sad. You see, two weeks ago, Kate got herself a new '3G' phone worth $460AU. She saved up for ages to buy it, since she's a (very) poor uni student, but was so rapt with it when she got it. It's really one of the only things of value that she actually owns, and although she isn't normally into techno-stuff, she was 100% in love with this phone.

Fast forward to last night, Saturday night. I went out to a few pubs for a mates birthday, she was working (at Galactic Circus - basically a 24 hour arcade game place located in the middle of a Casino Complex). I get home fairly early, about midnight, needed to get up early. Kate comes home at about 1am saying how at work tonight she bumped into two people that she vaguely used to know from Geelong (her old home town) and that it was cool seeing them, since they get along really well.

About 20 minutes later, they ring her up to say 'hey, can we crash at your place tonight?' - rather than travelling home (an hour away) and then back to the city to watch the footy the next day. She says sure, and puts her phone back down on her bedside table. Not long later they come in, I (being naturally suspicious sometimes) decide to move my laptop and wallet into her bedroom, just in case they decide to do a runner overnight. Unlikely, they seem nice, but it doesn't hurt to be safe. Soon after they arrive, I go to bed, and they sit around chatting. I fall asleep at this point.

About 30 minutes later, Kate comes into the bedroom saying that they are going down the street for a bit, and goes to grab her phone off her bedside table. I'm half asleep, and squint across, and she goes 'didn't I leave my phone here?' I say 'yeah'. She goes 'ah well, gotta go, I'll be right without it'.

Few hours later they all come back, Kate comes to bed, they go to bed. All go to sleep.

6.30am this morning, PG gets up early and goes home, has things to do. 9am Kate and friends wake up, Kate can't find her phone still. Friends help her look for phone, can't find it anywhere. No big deal, has to be in the bedroom somewhere, since she left it on the bedside table. Friends leave - Kate keeps looking. She rings her phone, strangely enough, its off. It was fully charged when she was talking on it previous night, and she doesn't turn it off. Keeps looking. And turns the house upside down, cleaning everywhere. Can't find it.

I ring her mobile also, I go straight through to her voicemail. Hang up. I ring her phone company to see if any calls have been made. No phone calls, but the voicemail has been checked. Someone has the phone, as the voicemail message is checked. I leave a message on it again informing them that it has been reported to the Police. Again, the voicemail is checked (phone company provides me the call records). Kate is devasted. It's not just the phone, it's the fact that she doesn't even know the last name or mobile number of these people. And that she has no money for food at the moment, let alone a new phone. And it's the first real thing of value she's ever had. And these 'friends' stole it.

I'm pissed off. Mostly because there is nothing I can do. We can shut off the account, but I want them to make a call, see we can find out the number, and at least have something to work with. In the meantime, she has started her own business and needs her phone. And '3' sim cards only work in '3' phones, thats right, the expensive ones.

Sorry to vent guys, this is the first real vent I have needed to do here I think. It might not seem much to you or me, but she is so shattered like you would not believe. It tears me up to see her this down...over a phone too!

Thanks for listening. If anyone feels like donating $1 with PayPal, it would be really really appreciated too. I'd love to buy her a new phone, but really don't have the funds. I promise if anyone does donate something, even $1, it really will go towards her new phone, not my bank balance. I don't honestly expect to make enough here to get her a new phone, but even 100 people donating a dollar would go a long way. Account is [email protected]

[Agasthya]

BASTARDS! You have to sink pretty low to use somebody like that.

I hope my money helps, I can't afford to give much, I'm on a pretty tight budget.

Good luck Jeremy.

[ryju]

I hope you find the scumbags who did this and tear them a new one. I'll be rooting for you.

[d0ubled0wn]

Reading your story really steams me up. It reminded me of a similar situation that happened to me when I was younger... a friend brings over his friend who I don't know. Later on, my wallet is missing with over $220 I had saved up to buy a paintball gun. Couldn't prove that he stole it.

I'll donate to your fund next time I have some $$ in my paypal. I hope you catch these thugs.

[mitchell_pgh]

Ugh, sorry to hear that your friend had something of such value stolen.

I would leave a message saying "Will give you $400 if you return the phone" and if you get it back pull the "yah, checks in the mail"...

If nothing else, your friend will learn a very valuable lesson. Never trust a person when you don't know where they live or work.

[mdc]

i am so sorry. that is terrible that someone you think you can trust steals from you.

[Socially Awkward Solo]

Which phone was it?

[Apple Pro Underwear]

in hell, there are extra long spiked anal butt plugs for friends who screw over freinds

[thePurpleGiant]

Thanks so very much to the people that have donated, I can't describe how much I do appreciate it, I am just longing to replace this phone and possibly restore her hope in humanity at the same time! Basically, it's just frustrating that:

a) It's a brand new phone
b) it's expensive (for her/us)
c) it was taken by trusted ones
d) no proof
e) all of the above = kate feeling pretty damn violated at the moment.

Once again, thank you so much to anyone who has chipped in money, hopefully a few more people will donate still. You guys are awesome.

Originally posted by Socially Awkward Solo:
Which phone was it?

LG u8110

[Peter]

sucks

[Steve]

Sorry to hear about that PG. I'll be throwing a few dollars your way when I setup my new bank account with PayPal.

[thePurpleGiant]

Update:

$132US raised so far, that's amazing - thanks so much MacNN. Still hoping to get closer and closer to the amount needed to purchase a new phone - it will be fantastic to see the look on her face if I can get her a new one.

Originally posted by Steve:
Sorry to hear about that PG. I'll be throwing a few dollars your way when I setup my new bank account with PayPal.

Thanks heaps Steve, look forward to it!

[Eriamjh]

They will sell the phone. You will never get it back.





Kill them the next time you see them.

[rozwado1]

$11.54 coming your way. If you need help killing her "friends," gimme a call. Nick

[ghost_flash]

Can they catch those 'friends'?

Don't they live somewhere? Track them down. I'd give you some money, but I don't have any to give you at the moment. Very, very sorry to hear of her loss of property. Things of course could have gone much worse with these so-called 'friends'. I've been betrayed by such 'friends' before by opening my home to them, and it strikes me especially hard in her regard.

I'll say a prayer for you both. That you will be able to replace the phone for her, and you will be rewarded ten-fold for your troubles.

Thanks for sharing your troubles, as this is not an easy thing to do, and you seem like a very genuine person on these forums.

Edit:

PS:

Maybe I can scrape few dollars together, then transfer them into paypal, and send them out.

Good luck! and GB. (That's God Bless).

The true crime here, is the fact that she and you will be more shy when it comes to helping others. Very sad, as this is the gift that keeps giving. I hope it doesn't though.

PPS:

Can anyone recommend a good cell phone provider besides T-mobile? Our contract is up and my wife and I are seeking to get new phones and a better deal. PM me as to not disrupt this thread anymore than this.

Thanks.

[Uncle Skeleton]

They can't triangulate on the phone when it's on like in the movies?

[thePurpleGiant]

Update: Kate has also found her $50 for the rent this month stolen out of her drawer. Just want to take this opportunity once more to thank everyone who has chipped in money, I will keep you all updated on how things go. Up to $148US - I'm getting pretty excited about the idea of maybe being able to get this for her.

Originally posted by ghost_flash:
Can they catch those 'friends'?

Don't they live somewhere? Track them down.

Unfortunately no. Kate knows a lot of people, and 90% of the time, she wont know their surname, mobile number, or more than the suburb in which they live. Strange I know, but it's just how she is. In this case, it doesn't help at all, since charges cannot be laid without a name, address, or phone number!

Originally posted by Uncle Skeleton:
They can't triangulate on the phone when it's on like in the movies?

No, unfortunately they can't - I tried that. I even went through to a supervisor, only to be told 'that only happens in the movies'!!

[AppleCello]

Isnt location based tracking becoming manditory in more and more places?? At least in the US, its becoming required so that emergency services will know where you are even if you dont. I bet that phone has what it needs to be tracked, but the operator doesnt have the resources to do it. too bad.

P

[Peter]

Originally posted by thePurpleGiant:
Up to $148US - I'm getting pretty excited about the idea of maybe being able to get this for her.

I donated

[mdc]

i used to work for a cellular company in cape town, south africa, and i went to the main building where they do all the major work from. the person who was showing me around said that they can track where a phone call is coming from when it is made. something about how which network tower has the signal or something.

and then a while later i watched the news and it was used to find some people who highjacked a car, stole their cellphone, and ended up using it a few times. they said they left a trail better than hansel and gretel.

that sucks that the supervisor said it won't work. at least then you could have an idea where they are, and be one step closer to handing out beat downs.


p.s. i do not condone handing out beat downs.

[Agasthya]

Originally posted by AppleCello:
Isnt location based tracking becoming manditory in more and more places?? At least in the US, its becoming required so that emergency services will know where you are even if you dont. I bet that phone has what it needs to be tracked, but the operator doesnt have the resources to do it. too bad.

P

Yeah, my Sprint phone gives me one or two warnings before you can turn off the Location feature.

[DeathToWindows]

no paypal here, but I'd be happy to help with the smackdown... or some judicious application of whoop-ass with hiking boots.

arseholes.

[funkboy]

I do believe 3G phones have the source locators in them, since, as said before, it's required for 911 phone calls.

I bet there's a way to find it... but, you're right, it may be for someone else now.

[Link]

Originally posted by thePurpleGiant:
No, unfortunately they can't - I tried that. I even went through to a supervisor, only to be told 'that only happens in the movies'!!

The only good thing about austrailia is the women, dude

That seriously sucks, sorry to hear :|

[bstone]

I'd be happy to donate, but, um, I need proof that it was stolen. Don't get me wrong...I want to believe you. Just that I and so many other people I know have been so badly burned.

So, a police report, insurance claim...something official and I'll kick a few dollar via paypal your way.

[soul searching]

Can you give us an update? Still accepting donations?

[Steve]

My PayPal account will have funds tomorrow (it takes forever!) and I can send a bit your way, but only if you give us an update!

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by Steve:
My PayPal account will have funds tomorrow (it takes forever!) and I can send a bit your way, but only if you give us an update!

Yes, please update us to where you are with this...

[rozwado1]

I talked to PG yesterday and he said that he's gotten about $200 american for the phone so far.

In other PG news, Kate got her iBook and camera stolen along with some cash. It's kind of a confusing story, so hopefully it'll show up in his blog. I told him to just write a novel already.

[Zoom_zoom]

i hate pricks like that, PG promises to tell the long story when he has a bit more time! (really busy at the moment)

[thePurpleGiant]

Originally posted by Zoom_zoom:
i hate pricks like that, PG promises to tell the long story when he has a bit more time! (really busy at the moment)

Okay settle guys - I am back. Sorry for the lack of updates, everything has been really busy for me recently.

Regarding the phone: Yep, so far you guys have donated about $210US in total which is bloody fantastic! While I always hope there will be more, I think just about anyone who is going to donate has done so already, so in the next week or so myself and Kate will probably just have to foot the difference. A massive thank-you to everyone who donated anything, It means heaps to me.

bstone: I understand the skepticism for sure - but since I reported the mobile stolen to the Police over the phone, they say it takes approx. 2 weeks to send out a police report. I will PM you when I get it.

Now for the sad news update:

Last Friday, Kate's little doggie Pablo escaped out of the backyard, as he has become quite adept at doing these days. Not so timid little doggie anymore! Anyway, Kate hadn't realised he was gone until a guy knocks on her door with Pablo, saying he found him in the street.

So Kate thanks him him very much, and they talk for a bit, he seems quite nice. As she goes to close the door and say goodbye, the guy asks if he can use her toilet. Being pretty wary of the city and strangers in her house these days, she says that she'd prefer not. But the guy persists and almost begs her, saying just how quick he will be. The guy comes in, goes to the toilet, they talk for a bit longer, and then he leaves.

Not too much later, Kate leaves her house, locks up, and goes round the corner (about a one minute walk) to the payphone to call me and say hi. (Since she doesn't have a phone at the moment). We talk for about three minutes, and then she goes back home.

When she gets back, there is this unsettled feeling in the house. She can just feel something is weird in there. Looks over to where her iBook normally sits, it's gone. Frantically then looks to where her digital camera is, gone. Checks all locks in the house, no sign of a break-in. Then looks in the bathroom. Window is wide open. The guy simply unlocked the bathroom window while he was in there, and must have been watching the house to run in as soon as she left.



A further update to the story (now that this is nearly a week old) is that she was walking down the street the other day and actually saw the guy who nicked her stuff! He saw her and did a runner, so she carefully followed the people he was with to see where they went. They actually ended up walking to a house just 4 houses down the road from her. The house with the payphone out the front. It's very possible that the guy himself lives there, dumbass.

Anyway, cops are 'investigating' so we will see what happens.

[soul searching]

Originally posted by thePurpleGiant:
...I think just about anyone who is going to donate has done so already, so in the next week or so myself and Kate will probably just have to foot the difference. ....

Whoa, talk about everything that can go wrong will go wrong. Anyway, you'll get a little more coming your way from me. Good luck to her with everything.

[thePurpleGiant]

Originally posted by soul searching:
Whoa, talk about everything that can go wrong will go wrong. Anyway, you'll get a little more coming your way from me. Good luck to her with everything.

And to top it off I accidentally deleted my sig image!! (again!!!)



...but, uh, yeah..thanks bro - but don't feel like you have to or anything, but I do appreciate that (as will Kate I'm sure). I don't want people to think that I went on about everything else being stolen to get more money, just wanted to keep ya'll updated. I'm just thankful that Kate is still alive and well.

[soul searching]

Originally posted by thePurpleGiant:
...but, uh, yeah..thanks bro - but don't feel like you have to or anything, but I do appreciate that (as will Kate I'm sure). I don't want people to think that I went on about everything else being stolen to get more money, just wanted to keep ya'll updated. I'm just thankful that Kate is still alive and well.

No worries, I'm glad to help.

(I would have done it earlier but I had to transfer funds to my eBay account and, as Steve mentioned, that takes a few days.)

[starman]

PG was kind enough to send me a post card from Australia. My first .

Mike

[mitchell_pgh]

Originally posted by starman:
PG was kind enough to send me a post card from Australia. My first .

Mike

I think it would be interesting if we had someone post a PO box and see what shows up.

[mitchell_pgh]

Starman... do it!

[Tulkas]

She should really stop letting people inside..

That really sucks though. Was it covered by insurance? Maybe the police will recover it since she knows what the guy looks like.

[funkboy]

Originally posted by Tulkas:
She should really stop letting people inside..

I agree... what size community do you live in? I'd never let a stranger in my house, even in my relatively small city.

I suppose if it was a neighbor that would be a little different... looks like she's learning the hard way. At least it was only a laptop or whatever...

Thing is, if her neighbor stole it, that is LOW. *Really* low. And she should know why it's gone, and he should get caught.

[Steve]

Money sent, finally! PayPal takes forever to transfer it over, but it finally did.

Sorry to hear about the further bad fortune Kate is having. Hope this helps out a bit.

[MOTHERWELL]

That is horrible about the laptop, but I must admit that I am glad your story was not about her dog. When I started to read it my heart rate increased...

[wolfen]

I feel bad, but more importantly hope your girlfriend learns something from these epxeriences. I know it sounds awful. But I hope she is able to say NO now.


wolfen

[Steve]

Originally posted by wolfen:
But I hope she is able to say NO now.

Not all the time...

[StayWhatYouAre]

I can't believe how much money macnn has donated

Ah i love this forum - people helping each other out, just makes you feel all warm inside..lol

and,

PG, i hope things have been better for kate and yourself of late.

[Shinigami]

PG, I'd donate but I don't really have any money :/ I'll try to get some to donate, it doesn't sound like you guys deserve to be stolen from.