Leo Gillick
Apple has done a great job of making its tech much more difficult to steal. It was using the tracking function that allowed one woman to locate her stolen AirPods after a pickpocket made off with them.
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The story, explained by her daughter, started off like many do in Italy. Two pickpockets spotted the glaring American tourists and swooped in. Using their finely tuned skills, they distracted her mom, crowded her, and, while she was flustered, dipped their hands into her shoulder bag.
They moved on, and shortly after, the woman noticed her bag was open. The thieves had snatched her purse and a metal water bottle. However, what they hadn’t bargained on was the purse containing AirPods that would allow the tourist to track the pickpocket.
Using the Find My feature on her phone, which she thankfully still had, she and her husband could see where the purse had gone. So, they set off looking. Using the tracking feature in the AirPods, it wasn’t long before they found the pickpocket, and the mom went into a blind rage.
Street Justice For Tourist Trapping Pickpockets
Rather than call the police immediately or ask for help, the mother entered vigilante mode. She rushed the three women and grabbed the youngest by her hair. One of the three high-tailed it, leaving with the purse she so desperately needed. It contained her cards, money, and passport.
The woman held the pickpocket for 50 minutes, pulling her around, and demanding the third return with her belongings. Their Airbnb host called the police for them, but they took their time turning up. But that’s when the situation turned physical.
The police stepped in, and this made the second pickpockets go wild. They began screaming and shouting, making a scene. Then, one of them, holding a grocery bag, swung it at the woman. It contained her metal water bottle, which hit her in the head, splitting her skin.
The situation continued, but the woman had to leave due to the excessive blood. She explained to the pickpocket that she didn’t care about the money or the AirPods; she just needed her cards and passport.
Eventually, the police found her at her Airbnb and informed her they had good news. The pickpocket had returned her purse to the airport, saying they didn’t want to be identified. It still contained everything, minus about $200 and her AirPods.
Tourist areas of Europe are packed with scammers and pickpockets. They’re almost impossible to avoid if you look like a tourist. Always stay aware.
