The cold March wind blew strong as I headed out to my first Women’s March along Calle de Alcalá, Madrid. La Ley Trans had just passed in Spain and as an NYU study-abroad student, I went to the protest in support of trans women. Exhilarated by the vibrant energy of a 17,000-person crowd, I never questioned my safety. That was possibly my first mistake.
Women protesting with sign reading, "TU NO ERES MI PAPI", "You are not my Daddy"
The second was pulling out my phone. In a state of awe, I took a photo (at left) to send back home to my mom in Minnesota
As we marched closer to the infamous Gran Vía, I placed my phone in my jacket instead of back into a crossbody bag I wore in front for extra security. This was my third, most detrimental mistake. A few seconds later, I realized my phone was gone. I had been pickpocketed.
My instinct was to find the woman I noticed brushing up against me but, in a crowd of thousands, there was no way that her white jacket would stand out. The thief likely immediately shut down Find my iPhone, ruining any chance of tracking the person down with a friend’s phone.
I soon learned that my experience was shared by hundreds of others. Pickpockets feed on crowds. (put that stat here) Madrid, a tourist hotspot, ranks fourth among European cities for pickpockets. NYU offered warnings on Study Abroad sites. But as someone who navigates New York City with no problems, I wasn’t prepared for pickpocketing, which has declined sharply in the U.S.
When I went to the police station to report the loss, I noticed that all the other victims were also young, female tourists. In fact, women are more susceptible to pickpocketing, and tourists in Europe are prime targets. I’d talked to three women whose phones were pickpocketed abroad and heard of even more. Last semester, around 10 students’ phones were stolen at NYU Madrid alone, according to Student Life.
Emily Alan, an NYU major, realized her phone was pickpocketed while on a Spring Break trip to Barcelona - the second favorite European city for pickpockets. While out with friends, Alan had her phone taken from her magnetic clasp purse. “Some people were saying that I was irresponsible, especially because I was warned about pick-pocketing in Spain. It made me feel so bad because I was so careful. I never thought this would happen to me.”
I thought I learned my lesson after the march but three weeks after the Women’s March, my new phone was pickpocketed from my zipped purse as I waited in line at Cafe Berlin with friends. The thief was so good I didn’t realize the theft until two hours later. Completely disheartened by my pickpocketing experiences, I became determined not to fall victim again and did some research on how to prevent--and actions to take--when a phone is stolen:
Make sure it doesn’t. Bring your phone only if absolutely necessary
(I promise, this isn’t as hard as it sounds)
As NYU peer mentor Sarah Rizvi, whose phone was stolen in London, advised: “Cut your losses,” by only carrying one credit card, little to no cash, and a form of ID that’s not your passport. Better safe than sorry!
Maybe it’s just lost?
Check Find My iPhone. Track to see if the phone was left somewhere by accident.
Have a friend call your number. This is how I was able to return someone’s lost phone to them
Change your iPhone to “lost” mode through Find My iPhone
Passwords
Immediately change your Apple ID password and other important accounts, such as your bank and email.
Buy…
A burner phone and keep it. Bring this to clubs and crowded areas It’s also a great way to spend time off social media when you’re with friends.
A duplicate sim card. This is less costly than getting an entirely new sim card, specifically for study abroad students. It also keeps your same number. While in Spain, I used Orange.
Go to the Police
File a claim. Bring a friend for directions and if you don’t speak the native language, someone there will be able to help you. Without a police report, filing for insurance to pay for damages will not be possible.
Bring the serial number of your lost/stolen phone to the police. If someone turns it in, this will allow you to get it back.
Be Insured
Apple Care only covers theft if you purchase the Applecare + Theft plan before the phone is lost or stolen
Buy travel insurance
Some banks can provide coverage for stolen items. Make sure you file a police report for this.
If you’re reading this and about to travel with an uninsured iPhone, purchase Apple Care + Theft here. I wish I had done this.
What I remember most is something my parents told me “Your phone’s lost and that sucks – but you’re not. That’s what matters most”. Plus, I’ll never forget the five days in Morocco without social media access or even a digital map to distract me. I’ll never forget the random acts of kindness from strangers, who paid for my laundry (the modern world is lost without Apple Pay) without expecting anything in return (don't worry Mom, I bought him a coffee).
And it’s true that the kindness of strangers plays forward. A few days after my second pickpocket, I found a lost phone just a few blocks from my dorm and when it rang I answered and then connected with the distraught young woman. I guess I got a good ending after all and — if nothing else -– a good story…and lesson learned!
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