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A friend of mine was mugged last night. Someone asked the time, and in a classic schoolboy error, he brought out his iPhone. The bad guy brought out a knife. The robber took everything. Wallet, phone, the lot. And this got me thinking about ways to "guard an empty box", as it were...

Now, I use an old Nokia 6310 because I like it, but it strikes me that carrying an old phone that no mugger would want as a decoy would protect your real phone. What other devious techniques could we come up with to hide valuables in a mugging situation? I'm thinking of wallets, etc. but there must be a few more.

Tomo wrote:A friend of mine was mugged last night. Someone asked the time, and in a classic schoolboy error, he brought out his iPhone. The bad guy brought out a knife. The robber took everything. Wallet, phone, the lot. And this got me thinking about ways to "guard an empty box", as it were...

Now, I use an old Nokia 6310 because I like it, but it strikes me that carrying an old phone that no mugger would want as a decoy would protect your real phone. What other devious techniques could we come up with to hide valuables in a mugging situation? I'm thinking of wallets, etc. but there must be a few more.

Advise I received when in Russia: don't carry all your money in one place... I used to have a specific amount on me, but distributed over several pockets. Perhaps this could work with carrying a wallet plus a small card-only affair? I've been using a credit card wallet for assorted rubbish for a while, but it might work to split cash and cards?

Good idea, though; recently got an iPhone, but will start to carry my old LG again

Journalist Tony Thompson mentions in his book Gangs...which funnily enough is about his first hand invesitgation into..Gangs..., that he always carried a fake wallet. It had an old fiver in it, some old store cards, a out of date credit card and a few coins. His actual wallet was in his bag or in some obscure pocket.

I mentioned about...three years ago about an attempted mugging where someone pulled a knife on both me and my brother and my teenage naive self lashed out and was then had a whole Police saga as the mugger cut his own hand in the struggle. Genius.

I also carry an old phone; 2 in fact!
I used to also always carry a loaded finger flasher in my jacket pocket (i lived in hull!) and got occassion to use it once when stopped by a guy on my way home from a club. Flash. Punch. Leg IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIITTTTTTT!

I had someone try and mug me at a cash machine once too; some random prodded me in the bag and said something like "oi, bitch, gimme the money". The look on his face when I turned out was priceless, he was clearly of the impression he was mugging a woman (i do have long hair and carry a handbag so he can be forgiven i guess); he was also half a foot shorter than me (and I'm not tall!), and promptly bolted.

Similar thing happened when living in Spain; some little kid came running up behind me, grabbed my bag and tried to run off with it; the bag was over my shoulder under my jacket and therefore cannot come off without my jacket coming off. he got as far as the length of the strap on the bag and hit the floor. I just stood there with a confused look on my face as he got up and kept running (without my bag obviously).

Keep you wallet in a TT. No one will ever see it with correct misdirection.

On a serious note tho, even tho we hear of crime all the time, it is fairly rare to be actually mugged.
It would be a shame if everyone was so fearful all the time that you carried spares of your valuables. However, it's totally understandable.

Most mobile phones are stolen while people are actually using them so the second phone wouldn't work in that situation.

Your best bet is playing it safe, walking busy streets, sitting down stairs on the bus, keeping your valuables out of site.
Crime is horrible and society is not geared up to deal with it effectively.

Alec

You asked for devious techniques in case of a mugging.
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2006/04/25/0425copperfield.html

One I really like is a minicab driver stunt. Bumbag around the waist with a few coppers, some washers and a load of broken lightbulbs. If they pick up a fare who tries to mug them they say "It's all in here" and dump it out of the car. They get out after it, he drives away, they cut their hands open.
One told me of a radio system code where their exact location gets sent out to other drivers and as many as can make it turn up to - erm - have a quiet word with the mugger.


For everyday folk carrying a decoy phone often wouldn't be enough. As your friend found out, getting you to stop is step 1. When you take out the dummy phone he's going to demand the rest. If you're lucky a decoy wallet AND a decoy phone might be enough. I've been mugged a few times and never by a lone person. Every time they've had a chance (I managed to escape once) one or more has put their hands in my pockets to search for valuables.
I've never had shoes and socks checked, so that's something to consider.

I'd start off by playing busy, broke and uninterested.
"Have you got the time?"
"Nah mate." (Without breaking stride.)
"Stop a second."
"Can't mate, I'm in a rush."
"F****** stop you k***." (because mugging someone isn't enough, you've got to insult them too.)
This is where having a black belt in RunAway-Fu comes in very handy. Failing that, training in mixed martial arts (or anything that isn't some sort of eastern flowery useless nonsense) is a good plan B.

Every time I've been mugged I've been stood still or walking slowly.
I've never been mugged since I learned to put someone to sleep and practiced it against someone who was fighting back (instead of the usual rubbish you get in traditional martial arts schools). Confidence works wonders and is probably the best defence against trouble I've seen to date.



Just seen Alec's post made while I typed this.
Absolutely spot on about rarity of mugging and also spot on that society isn't geared up to deal with it. I'm sure it'll be an unpopular comment so I'll prefix by saying anyone hinting at a wild west scenario in response is making a straw man...
In places where law abiding citizens are able to lawfully carry guns (open or concealed) rates of violent crime are lower and trend downwards as opposed to disarmed populations (like ours) where violent crime is higher and trends upwards.
We've been turned into a nation of victims where it's illegal to prepare an effective defence in anticipation of an attack... illegal to carry ANY kind of weapon of defence... and where victims of violent crime are prosecuted when they hurt their assailant.
It's still fairly rare though.

I carry Andy Nymans Killer Elite Pro all the time, if someone asks to see my wallet they are going to wonder what kind of mental carries cards with film stars on it.

Aren't stolen phones rendered useless by the operator nowaday?

Ste Porterfield wrote:Aren't stolen phones rendered useless by the operator nowaday?

If I stole someone's Blackberry or iPhone it would certainly get rendered useless by the operator!

That's horrible Tomo, I hope your friend is ok.

Madelon's suggestion is a good one and one that I always use when I'm in North Africa. Some of the cities can be very dodgey so I'll always carry 4 or 5 purses with nothing more than about £5 in any one of them. Any trouble and you can just empty a purse into their hand, it's something that's got me out of bother more than once, although only with hawkers and thankfully never a mugger.

Ste - yes, but you've got to contact the network first.
As I understand it some stolen phones are sold to unsuspecting people before it gets blacklisted.

The remainder are probably broken for spares - quite lucrative I imagine. Kinda like stolen cars. Virtually worthless beyond joyriding unless broken up in which case they can sometimes be worth more than the market value of the intact car.


Contrary to how my previous post sounded, I also agree that having your money in multiple places is a good idea. If ever I'm likely to be in a risky situation I do split anything I'm carrying.

Old habits die hard with me and I always carry my Passport, emergency cash and a mini-letherman in my boots. Anything else they can have.

someone tried to mug me a few steps away from my front door

fake pull back your right arm and then instantly back hand them with your left - they never see it comin

he was knocked out for about an hour

Vanderbelt wrote:Old habits die hard with me and I always carry my Passport, emergency cash and a mini-letherman in my boots. Anything else they can have.

Dont you walk with a limp?

Vanderbelt wrote:Old habits die hard with me and I always carry my Passport, emergency cash and a mini-letherman in my boots. Anything else they can have.

Are you Jack Reacher?