Can I borrow your phone?

[karder]

This last Saturday I witnessed an attempted petty crime. Something for you all to watch out for.
To set the scene, I was working providing engineering support for the television broadcast of a sporting event. It was at the end of the night and I was breaking down equipment. I had a cart with about 300 pounds of equipment and was coming off a cargo elevator. I see a young girl (total punk looking kid) about 14 or so, asking a lady if she could borrow her phone to call her mom. The lady was late 40s, and from her dress was a restaurant worker who had been on the catering crew, and was trying to go home for the night.
The lady seemed nice, and told her sure. She handed her one of the those android EVOs and the kid bolts off like a shot with the phone. Unfortunately for the little brat, I am blocking her escape route with my giant cart of gear. The kid realizes she is trapped, and not wanting to turn around and face the lady who is coming after her, she hands me the phone and zips around me and off she goes.
I give the lady back her phone, and head on out. There were a bunch of state troopers gathered outside, so I told them what happened and they went in to talk to the lady.
I just wanted to post this so you guys and gals are careful about handing a kid your phone. I would have totally fallen for that trick, but now I will be more careful. I probably could have grabbed the kid when she gave me the phone, but decided not to put my hands on her. I don't want the liability and there are a lot of police out there. I just wanted the ladies phone back and I got it. I can just imagine that I grab a thief and get sued for assault, wouldn't that just be the American way!

[erick619]

good thing she chickend out and left the phone.

i was at seaworld about a month ago and after the show some kid (couldn't be more than 15 yo) with his kid sister asked if he could use my phone to "call his mom" and i let him. i had my leg ready to trip him if he tried to run off with it. didn't really think about the whole assault charges, but that is something to consider. i definitely will be a lot more careful. it's unfortunate that people try to take advantage of your kindness.

sorry if i thread jacked.

[ddstuder]

I had a similar situation presented to me. When the kid asked to use my phone to call his dad, I volunteered to dial the number and put it on speakerphone while he talked to his father. He lost interest and walked away!

[knotquiteawake]

Good tip. Seeing that and not wanting to be totally heartless I guess I may be inclined to say something like "No, but I'll call her for you if you'd like" Or "My phone in kind of complicated, let me dial the number for you first." That might weed out the fakers.

[RPB]

My cell phone is a 2003 "911 only phone"
sure, you can use it... it was free ...it has no activated service but 911 works... it has the E-911 so the GPS in the phone 911 shows where it is ... want me to dial 911 or would you like to?

I only got it because I might need it if
1) the electricity on my internet phone at home goes out or
2) I'm on the road/away from home and need 911

I never liked being interrupted by Pagers either ( for any too young to know what a pager is .. .it's a cell phone with caller ID so you can call someone back when you get to a phone ... but you can''t talk or listen on it .....)

[Thomas]

I always ask for the number and dial it for them so that I know they aren't calling some 900 number or something.

[snatchel]

If you have an iphone, activate your "find my phone" thing. Some kid stole my phone when I was doing observations at a high school. I used my ipad to track down my phone. Took me 3 minutes to track my phone down to a classroom (the GPS is extremely accurate), I had another student go get the principal. Took me about 10 minutes total to get my phone back, a 15 year old high school boy stole it and was gonna sell it to his friend. I thought about not filing charges, but ended up doing it anyway... I have little patience with thieves.

[Thomas]

@ snatchel How do you turn on the find my phone feature I have a 3gs?
Do I need to buy an app for this?

Thanks,
Mike C.

I'm not snatchel , but I hope I can help anyway:

You need an app, but it's free from Apple.
http://lifehacker.com/5696311/how-to-en ... 10-devices

[The Annoyed Man]

@ snatchel How do you turn on the find my phone feature I have a 3gs?
Do I need to buy an app for this?

Thanks,
Mike C.

I'm not snatchel , but I hope I can help anyway:

You need an app, but it's free from Apple.
http://lifehacker.com/5696311/how-to-en ... 10-devices

Beat me to it. Also, this app is available for iPads too (I have it on mine) and I wouldn't be surprised if it's also available for the iPod Touch.

[snatchel]

Dang, those guys are gunslingers. I'm sorry bud, the lifehacker thingy is what I used as well. Super good stuff. Tam, yessir your right on the ipad thing. I downloaded it on there as well... as well as for my wifey's stuff.

[The Mad Moderate]

Thank you gentlemen, I will try this later today.
Mike C.

It can also be done from http://www.icloud.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; you just need to turn on "find my iPhone" in the location panel in the settings app.

[glbedd53]

I still have a Razr. Kids never want to borrow it.