Mobile phone theft Sunday Liquorish

[lizzie]

Be warned, my friend yesterday was the target of 2 dodgy Big Issue sellers who stole her mobile phone from outside Liquorish. We were sitting in the sunshine and she rather stupidly had her phone on the table. 2 Asian women came up to us and were really pushy trying to sell us the Big Issue. They put the copies on the table and were shuffling them around - we told them to go away but they were really hassly. And about an hour later we realised the phone was missing. We have no proof it was them but they were the only people who came near the table. When my friend rang the police they said something like 20 phones had been stolen from East Dulwich over the past weekend so there's obviously something organised going on. I also remember that they didn't have Big Issue ID. So if anyone sees 2 Asian women wearing bright pink cardigans then steer clear...unless you want to buy a cheap phone that is! And if you want a copy of Big Issue go to the nice man that sells it by the traffic lights at Sainsburys

[Tylertoes]

That is one of the most common scams going on at the moment, its usually a map over the phone and someone asking for directions that speaks very little english, its rife all over London.

[DulwichFox]

This is an old 'Scam'

Happened to me outside the Bishop last summer.

Someone comes up. Throws copy of Big Issue on table. (Covering your Mobile)

When you don't buy it, they pick the Mag. up along with your phone.

In my case it was my ipod. but I spotted the scam and retreived it before they could take it.

[DJKillaQueen]

This happened to me years ago in a restaurant, lost my purse.

[tesstaz]

U ALSO HAD MINE TAKEN OUT OF MY HAND AT CLAPHAM JUNCTION WAS SITTING DOWN CHATTING ON PHONE TWO BOYS CAME OVER ONE SAT NEXT ASKED IF I HAD A CIGERETTE AND THE OTHERE ONE GRABBED IT AND AWAY THEY WENT I COULD NOT GET THEM CALLED POLICE BUT NO AVAIL ALSO HAD BAG STOLEN AS WELL FROM MERICK ARMS WENT TO GO AND SING AND GIRL ROBBEDME NFRONT OF MY FACE I WAS SINGING AND THEY TOOK IT AND RUN AGAIN INSRANCE WONT PAY OUT AS I LEFT THE CHAIR UNATTENEND THEY HAVE EXUCES FDOR EVERY THNG DONT THEY BE CAREFULL AND VIGALANT AND DONT TRUST PEOPLE U DONT KNOW

[the-e-dealer]

Yes maps used in Rome 20 years ago!

[summerjt]

Sorry to hear about this. It is as other posters have said an old, well-used con. I observed it sitting in a cafe in Regent Street. A Big Issue seller approached a table of tourists, putting his Big Issue on the table. When they refused to buy the Big Issue, the man left. A few minutes later the tourists realised the phone was missing and were really upset.

Shame really as it's a pretty natural thing to do to put your phone on the table - but I suppose you are advertising it to thieves... So sorry this happened to you. And very worrying and sinister if something organised is going on...

[ratty]

Got done by this scam in Covent Garden in 2002

[pommie]

sorry but i wouldnt think of leaving my mobile in view on a table!!