Last night, I got jacked. I hear a lot of that around here, and I’ve nodded sagely and though “That won’t happen to me–I’m too careful.”
I’d pulled over to check something on my phone. A bike pulled up behind me and a woman got off the back and approached me from behind on the sidewalk. As she got to my bike, she came around to the road side and asked “Massage?” I said “No” and went back to what I was doing. She entered in to my personal space and I quickly put my phone in my pocket and dropped my hand to guard the pocket with my phone and wallet. She reached across my hand and grabbed my package. “Massage?” I pushed her hand away and told her to go away.
She got more aggressive and pushed toward me. I stepped off my bike onto the sidewalk and she pushed the bike over, stepped over it and continued towards me. I told her to go away and she turned back to lift up my bike. I rushed forward, grabbed the bike, got on and tried to leave. She came back around and stepped in front of the bike. She reached for my wallet pocket and I slapped her hand away. She grabbed my hand and yanked my thumb back. The whole time, she kept repeating “Massage?” and I kept repeating “No. Go away!”. Finally, the scooter she arrived on pulled up, she jumped on the back and drove away.
I was relieved. I’d gotten away with my phone, wallet and bike. I went home and counted my lucky stars. The only thing that happened was my thumb got a little tweaked.
This morning, I noticed that my wedding band was gone. When she was tweaking my thumb, and I was distracted by that, she stripped the wedding band off my finger.
People talk about crime in Ho Chi Minh City all the time. The reality is that it’s just like any other big city anywhere else in the world. There are rules and I ignored them: if you need to pull over, do so in a well lit area around lots of people. I didn’t do that. My mistake. I paid to learn a lesson. The good news is I could have paid much more. Had she been a little quicker and stronger, she’d have gotten my bike. I defended my wallet and cell phone and managed to save those. The two that came after me in my moment of stupidity were professionals that took advantage of a newbie.
Next time, I’ll be more careful…
#1 by Chad Xix on 13 November, 2009 - 9:42 am
Hey there – lucky for you, you got through this. Perhaps in future, may I suggest, that IF you are encountering something like this again – USE YOUR PHONE to take PICTURES – it may help the police with their search for these brazen criminals. Glad you’re okay though – sorry to hear about your misfortune too.
your friend chad
#2 by bert shure on 13 November, 2009 - 9:42 am
yikes!
if you had gained weight over the years of your marriage, your ring would have been harder to slide off. another thing that’s your fault.
i’m glad you’re safe.
#3 by Karen Dollmont on 13 November, 2009 - 9:56 am
she must have been very brave, your a big guy. Next time just punch them. My gosh glad your ok.. Stay safe.
#4 by Julio Menendez on 13 November, 2009 - 10:19 am
Wow Chris, that’s crazy, what a crazy woman! I’m so glad you are ok. Yeah, next time just punch them in the face.