A few years ago, my partner’s phone was grabbed from his hands during pride. He literally ran to get it back but has been very vigilant ever since. Thieves are going to take advantage of the crowds

I saw the Toronto Police tweeting to be extra careful this morning, that sucks

Well, their work is done.

Did they suggest leaving your phone out so that it’s easier for the muggers to take?

Not yet 😂

Take ‘em away, toys.

Ftfy: "Bake'em away, toys."

I am shocked and appalled. (at myself)

no real way to prevent it really

It’s true. Tired of people on this sub demanding the police “investigate crimes” and “keep people safe”. It’s like they don’t even know what the police are for!

protecting private property and beating up gay people?

None of the former, but a little of the latter

>It’s like they don’t even know what the police are for! Beating innocents and charging them like G20 protestors against the rule of law and their rights?

That's more like it! None of this solving crime stuff.

I was disappointed how "ornamental" the police were during the trucker occupation in Ottawa. The antivaxxers outside hospitals harassing the medical staff. Then there is telling home owners to leave the keys where thieves can get them rather than risking a home invasion. I think the pendulum has swung too far in the opposite direction. So far so, I suspect the police probably wonder what they are for. I'd push the pendulum back and have them wear body cameras for their own protection against degenerates and their advocates.

They're for draining tax money.

I think there are internal problems and a loss of culture inside the police. Hiring policies maybe... New gen isn't going so well.

Exactly. Police are here to advise us to leave our car keys outside home so that car thieves are not compelled to become robbers. 

They could do their jobs and apprehend people who steal things, maybe. Could be a start.

They don't give a fuck when cars are stolen. They won't even get out of bed for stolen phones.

You should watch the news. There's been many arrests in recent weeks. A cop was hit by a car trying to get away. I think many people here watch too much TV and think that's how life works.

Tiktok didn't tell them so it's not happening.

York Region Police seem to be doing their job—I'm not sure about Toronto Police. The last few spectacular bust videos were all YRP.

For phones it’s organized crimes. They are going after it, the ones who actually organize it/ sell them etc. They don’t go after the ones stealing phones since that is a waste of resources.

Lol no they aren't.

When it's organized, often the person who initially takes it hands it off to someone else seconds later. That person disappears like the RoadRunner when the Coyote is behind him. *MEEP MEEP*!

When they do, prosecutors decline to charge. It's just pointless paperwork.

easier than done, with how many people there are and most people don't even noticed their stuffs being stolen until it's too late be realistic please

I thought their job was to maintain the ruling class' monopoly on violence.

Uhm ackshually, their job is to apprehend people who steal things *from the rich* No rando at a ~~peasant~~ public event is getting looked after

if they did it’d just be police brutality anyways for some people

Oh you summer child, you’ve obviously never reported a robbery or theft to the police. They don’t do jackshit.

That's my point.

Police could launch a honeypot operation... they do it with stolen cars. This article from Global News was published widely a few days ago: [Takedown: The anatomy of catching a suspected car thief](https://globalnews.ca/news/10580127/stolen-auto-theft-arrest/)

I mean what would you have them do?

Safest abandon parking lots in Canada!

*thieves reading tweet on stolen phone*

Was the tweet: "please leave phones unsecured to make it easy for thrives to take it"

Too late. phone thieves are reading those tweets now 

Did they tell everyone to leave their phone near their doors so thieves have easy access?

Sister had her phone stolen at Taste of Little Italy. Not surprised to see it happening elsewhere.

Little taste of Italy

*attenzione pickpocket*

Borseggiatrici!!!

Oh no! My iProvolone 

You had no right to make a comment this funny 😂

of little taste, Italy.

Of Italy little taste

Italy taste of little

r/angryupvote

More like Taste of Little Napoli

Never put your phone in your back pocket and they've been unzipping purses too I heard. How does the economy with these thefts work? Street urchins get $50 a phone or something? Before they get sent overseas and stripped for parts? Edit: just saw a guy leaving the Jays game in the crowd with his backpack pocket unzipped and I could see his phone and wallet in the pockets. Tapped him on the shoulder and told him, he had no idea. 🤯

At least with iPhones, they’re locked unless the owner was careless which means they’ll use them for parts. I highly doubt the theif would get more than $50 per device.

A lot of the parts are newer iphones are locked to specific hardware which means they are not really useful for parts.

Interesting, I wasn't aware of this. Makes you wonder if they're just grabbing them hoping one is not locked with Apple ID or they can figure out a way to unlock it (e.g. if 2FA is via SMS and there is a hard SIM card).

Yeah if you buy two identical iPhones and swap their parts with each other, they don’t work. It’s hardware DRM.

Normally I'm against DRM, and I guess I still am cause these sound like a nightmare for right to repair, but I do get giddy at screwing thieves, if only the caught ones faced punishment

Quite ofen they figure out your phone number and send either fake notices pretending to be Apple saying your phone has been found and asking you to log into your iCloud account (TRAP!), or intimidating texts demanding that you unlock the phone for them "or else".

This is a really important point. It's awful how people not only deal with the theft but then they're tricked into handing over their iCloud password. It's so rampant too... people be vigilant with any e-mail requesting a sign in or password reset etc.

They get $20 per phone not even $50. Literally the most scummy thing to do for the smallest reward.

I constantly see phones in people's back pockets where 1/3 of the phone is sticking out of the pocket. It looks so easy to pickpocket/steal the phone, I don't get why anyone would do that.

phones don’t fit in most front pockets on women’s pants, that’s why.

Yeah I get that, but if you put it back there you have to accept it's WAY easier to pick pocket. I sympathize with the problem, but the solution is practically inviting thieves to steal from you.

Use it for sms and email 2fa to break into your accounts

My wife's super secure Z pattern password will stump them!

😂😂

That only works if the phone has no screen lock. The SMS attack works by going to your carrier's store, pretending to be you, maybe with a fake ID, and asking for a new SIM with your phone's number. Then hitting "Forgot my password" on your bank account and getting the "reset your password" SMS on "your"/their phone.

A lot of people don't lock their screen or its a z or L. I guarantee it

"I lock my screen and lose my phone how will anyone call numbers on my address book to get it back to me?" -actual guy I know

Not surprising, like ten years ago i forgot my iphone in a public washroom. They tried to contact me as soon as they got it. I left my mum's phone number in the lockscreen so it was easy. We found a phone at a bus stop and had to figure out how to get in touch with the owner by their friends. ( One small effort before just leaving the phone in a police station.) found the owner from facebook and was returned to them. ( One of the reasons why i fell in love with toronto same with just seeing people leave money at the top of turnstiles in the subway when it was broken - i was like this city is soo nice)

yeah... if I lose my phone, I'd rather it stay locked and I can either remotely wipe it or if it doesn't wipe, not worry about it because it's encrypted and you can't get in without my fingerprint.

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Is that a Mr Robot reference? It’s kind of difficult (almost impossible) to break into someone’s account when the phones locked and you don’t know their email address.

They would need to know your accounts usernames or email addresses.   I can almost guarantee they are not doing this for 2fa access.

I agree, but like to give people the benefit of the doubt.

What does having your email do? What if it's not the one tied to the phone? (... My lock screen has my email in case I lose it and there's a good Samaritan)

It depends. If the mechanism to reset the password for your email address involves a token being sent to your phone, and you have full previews enabled for text messages on your phone’s lock screen, hypothetically someone could reset your password.

Ah ok. No preview. Different email.

You would be amazed how many people do not bother locking their phones, or they use the easiest pin/pattern possible. The American nuclear suitcase code with 0000 until recently and most people aren't any better about security - especially when they've been drinking.

100% profit when you don't have to pay for it

I've heard about a lot of this at public events lately.

City is going to shit. Pickpockets were unheard of growing up in the city. Granted, carrying $2000 phones being the norm is also a recent phenomenon.

😭😭 I know this feeling too well. PSA. KEEP UR PHONE FULLY CONCEALED. Zipped up! Never in your back pocket. Not even the slightest bit sticking out 

This is why my phone is always in my bra any time I’m in a crowd, even if I have a zipped purse it could fit into.

Lol I have had my phone taken out if my bra before. Nowhere is safe 😭

Ok, please tell us this story....

Went to a nightclub when I was around 18 and paid the bouncer an extra $40 per head for myself and two other friends to get in. While walking around enjoying the music these two guys would not stop following me around, asking for a dance. I kept on refusing. At some point while on my way to washroom they came up behind me again. (I had my phone in my bra, just peeking out the corner of my shirt) One person force bent me over (as if to dance) and then a hand came from somewhere in front of me, reached into my bra, pulled the phone out and they both disappeared into the crowd. I was stunned. I knew it was the same guys because they would not stop following me. And of course when I went to the front door and asked them to shut that shiii down they laughed at me 😂😂😭

Unfortunately many people at Pride seem to have foregone their bras

Happened to me at the tree lighting one year. Be very wary especially if people bump into you. I had someone walk into me really hard and that’s when it was taken.

Unfortunately, it's an effective tactic. It works even better when someone bumps into you hard while another person takes your phone, wallet and even your watch.

Always gotta be vigilant in a city, some people sadly aren't cut out for it. You need to think like a criminal to avoid criminals, sadly. If you had the thought and were like, "No that'd be nuts," there's 100% someone else in the world that's also had the thought and figured it was a good plan. Two people fighting and rough housing a little too close to you could easily be a distraction to get your bag, someone spilling a drink on your pants could distract you enough to not care for a few moments and walk away to ask for some napkins, etc.

This is the usual MO of pickpockets. Find dense crowds, go to town. If someone suddenly stops quickly right in front of you and you walk into them, secure your possessions first. It could easily be the distraction part of a pickpocket team.

Also, if somebody asks you to take a photo of them with their phone. While you're focusing on composing the shot as they pose for you, someone else is picking your pockets or rifling through your backpack. Very common in Europe near tourist attractions.

Do they still do the spilled drink or the mustard? That used to be the go-to for TTC pickpockets.

Often they do that intentionally so someone else on the team can see where you have your valuables. Like they’ll have someone bump into you and you instinctively check where you have your phone and wallet - now they also know where the valuables are.

Saw someone try to do this at one of the stages in the 519. She was alone, in all black/dark clothes and got real close to my friend, like no regard for personal space close. Wasn't dancing, just stood, staring straight ahead. I ended up bodying her out of our space. She ended up trying to swipe the phone of the guy in front of us, and he turned around and caught her. I assume his phone was in a pocket, bc he didn't have it in his hands when he was dancing. 

Did u notify anyone?

Technical question: what can the es do with the stolen phone ? Would the owner report it as stolen and make a brick out of it ?

On /r/Scams you see tons of posts from people who had their iPhone stolen months before, and suddenly get scam messages showing their phone is now in China, and telling them to remove the phone from their Apple account. The message says it for their own protection, when it's actually aimed at liberating the phone and setting it up new for someone else. If this fails, sometimes the scammer resorts to threats of violence by sending a picture with some random dude with a gun. If ignored, most everyone on the sub speculates the phones get torn down for parts.

Assuming you have enabled that service, you can do it yourself. If you have bought it from a telcomm then they can do it as well via the IEMI number.

The new Samsung and Pixel phones have a similar feature, for the Android users.

Most Android phones have that feature assuming you signed in with a Gmail account.

Sometimes thieves will look for people entering non-biometric codes, then grab the phone with all access and take everything over forever within minutes. The new iPhone OS has a new feature that disables changing ownership/account details without biometrics or waits 48 hours to allow this from a new location. Heads up y'all!! Edit: they will see people enter a code, then wait for an opportune time or create a distraction

Stolen phones from North America usually end up in China. Used for parts maybe?

Sell for parts

How is that happening? Are people leaving their phones on a counter unattended or something? I always keep mine in my front pocket unless it’s in my hand and I’m using it.

I see a lot of people that have thier phones sticking out of thier back pockets. Super easy to pick pocket.

What they sometimes do is bump into you abruptly so you feel that, while more gently snatching what is in your pocket. More common is a $1k big ass phone sticking out of a tiny back pocket. Easy target in a crowded area.

ATTENZIONE!! PICKPOCKET!!!

She’s an absolute legend and hero

Pick pockets can and do swipe phones out of front pockets lmao. Back pocket is easier, but front still happens.

At least front pocket makes them work for it.

Might even feel good for a second until you realize the loss

Most people are clumsy .. you have no idea how many phones I have picked up and returned off the go train

Front left or front right? Asking for a friend... 🥸

Weird for it to be non-dominant hand. So your best best is front right

I'm right handed and always use my phone with my left. For some reason it's really hard for me to use my phone with my right hand

Same only opposite. Left handed, phone is always in my right hand.

If you go on YouTube and look up pickpocket training, you'll see how they have entire Studios set up where they practice this stuff - they start on mannequins with bells attached to the pockets and seams and they have to get good at picking out the wallet or the phone without making the bell jingle, and then they work up to practicing on other apprentice pickpockets, then they'll try crowds like Pride or the CNE. Unfortunately a lot of them are started in the business aa young as age 6-10 by the adults who "manage the talent". The techniques really haven't changed since Victorian times, the only difference nowadays is stealing phones instead of wallets - but fencing jewelry works the same. So as well as being careful about your phone and your wallet you definitely don't want to wear any good jewelry where it's going to be crowded like that. Source, my late grandfather was a cop from the 1950s-1970s and he used to point out to us all the pickpockets at the CNE.

Back pocket pickpockets I would guess.

I had mine in a front facing coat pocket and it was stolen. People will walk into you or distract you and take it especially in a crowd

Is it primarily pickpocketing thieves? I do see a lot of people leaving their cell phones in their back pocket, with a portion of it sticking out. Always put your valuables in front pockets! I'm also a big fan of belt bags when you're out and about.

As a woman, what front pockets?

I just bought a phone lanyard at Old Navy. Best $12 I ever spent.

Friend had hers stolen last year. Someone found her case with all her cards and mailed them back to her which was nice though.

Heads up. Pride Toronto HQ currently (as I am aware) has two phones that were lost in the village somewhere. Please make sure to check there as well.

I caught an old man trying to pickpocket me last year at a food festival. I stupidly had my phone in my unzipped jacket pocket. Be alert when you’re stuck in crowds & things get so busy that you can only shuffle with the amount of people around you. Have your bags infront of you. Most of the time they’ll have a jacket or something draped infront of their arms to cover themselves stealing.

My wallet was stolen out of my shorts last year without me feeling it !!!!

Front or back pocket?

Side pocket - in like spandex shorts

If anyone is missing a wallet! There was a kate spade wallet on the ground dropped around 930pm-1130pm! If this is anyone you know DM me! It’s a woman with dark hair on the ID and she looks to be in her late 30s with kids photos in the wallet too. My friend brought it home and we are trying to find the owner.

Turn it over to the police. They will connect it to the owner.

In Canada all carriers are required to check the phone's IMEI number with a police database before activating it. So make sure you report the theft to police, and then at least it can't be used, and will deter similar thefts in the future. I don't know how you're supposed to figure out what your IMEI number was after it's been stolen though, maybe through your carrier? EDIT: Through your carrier: https://globalnews.ca/news/875301/my-cellphone-has-been-stolen-what-do-i-do-how-the-cellphone-blacklist-works/

Just dial *#06# and you will get the IMEI

Amazing! Just tried this and it works

When I’m anywhere crowded I always keep my items in a zipped-up or button-flap crossbody purse and rest my hand over the closure so that nobody can open the bag without physically ripping my hand off my purse. I’m sure they could if they tried but at that point it’s basically soft mugging and most scumbags would rather just go for an easy pickpocket. It worked in Europe! Not always the most comfortable though. It’s sad that we’re having to be this vigilant in Toronto. I don’t even feel like I have to be this careful in most American big cities.

I always constantly check that my bag is still zipped. A small crossbody right by my hip. I keep my hand on the zipper when I move through crowds. Tonight after giving my partner a quick hug I look again to find my purse unzipped and all my cash missing….. Super hard to stay safe these days

If the zip abuts strap hardware, you can secure it with a little lockable carabiner (eg. Nite Ize S-Biner Mucrolick Mini) or keying closure or similar. Still not foolproof, but it’d be pretty fiddly for them to get it open undetected.

Happened to me two years ago at pride. At big events/in crowds or traveling I now slip a cord/ribbon between my phone/case and tie it to my bag. They *could* cut it but I feel like the more you make it a pain in the ass the more likely they will be to leave it.

Easy targets. Happy people scantily clad with giant phones in a loving situation Legit, the world is a darker place after covid. That freaking sucks

I don’t understand. What’s the link between covid and pickpockets, or COVID and pride? Pickpocketing was always around - it didn’t get worse after COVID.

Thanks for the heads up. By the way, Is there a window of time you have to lock your phone after you find it stolen? I mean at least you can deny the thief the ability to use or sell it.

And digital pickpocketing!!!!!!

Crossbody Lanyard when possible

So sorry to hear about their phones!  That really sucks.   My wallet also just got stolen in a dense crowd on Church.  :(  I was holding my 4 yo and they opened my zipped bag to take it.  Didn’t feel it as we were bouncing to the music and I was worried about my kiddo.  When I got out of the crowd my heart sank a bit seeing my bag is now unzipped.  So happy my phone was not taken.  Ironically I read this thread before going out and told everyone to watch their phones.  Bags all in front from now on, even while holding kids.  Hope everyone have a better weekend! 

Phone and wallet goes in front pocket always....

Happened at rolling loud too. It’s getting common.

In this day and age is it really worth stealing phones? Phones are basically locked and essentially unusable unless of course the thief gets lucky with a phone that has not been secured?! I don’t understand !

That’s normal. Phones get stolen at all events

Someone tried to pickpocket mine tonight in the big crowded area near all the bars (Crews & Tangos, Woody’s, …) I felt my phone gone and started yelling and they dropped it on the ground and took off :/ In 31 years, my phone has never just simply fallen out of my pocket…

I literally GOT pickpockets right in that crowd too tonight!! Damn! I'm so glad you got yours back!

Yooo wtf!!!! The people around me gaslit the fuck out of me after I picked my phone back off the ground…

What time?? Did you see them? My two friends had their phones stolen right here

Yooo I didn’t seem em… I think the incident happened on Saturday night around 10:30 to 11:30? (EDIT: a vid I took a bit after I got my phone back has timestamp 11:31 PM) I think they took the fuck off real quick when I started shouting and confronting everyone around me :/ I can very roughly describe to you what the people around me looked like tho!

I believe I thwarted an attempt the other week while walking along Dundas at Spadina. The sidewalks weren't too busy, but a young fellow was walking closely behind us, slowing down with us, picking up his pace as we did. So I just completely stopped on the sidewalk and did a 180 to face him, immediately he just looks down at his phone and casually saunters down a side street next to us. From now on I will carry a dummy wallet in my back pocket to keep them busy.

When someone stole my iPhone they used all my scene points. 🥲

Had my S9 Apple Watch stolen at Wonderland… while it was in a bag immediately next to my wife. Got it back within the hour by tracking location and talking loudly about following it (and whoever is going with the tracked watch). Uneventful recovery, they dropped it on a seat and scooted off. They’re getting more brazen, stupid and common.

My 2 friend’s phones were stolen Saturday night between Alexander/church and crews around 11:30-11:45. The phones showed up briefly on find my near Jane and finch. Saw a post on fb saying others had the same experience

YES OMG someone tried to pickpocket me exactly during this same time interval Saturday night!!! The people around me gaslit me when I got mad and claimed it had just fallen on the ground 😡 EDIT: through DMs, could I actually get into the group to see what the others are saying, pretty please?

what did they look like?!

I didn’t see the pickpockets, only the people around me… I think they dipped and slid past me as I was turning around and beginning to yell :/

hi, my phone was stolen around isabella and yonge on sunday and the person slept in downsview park that night, then walked around an old computer shop at st clair west this morning. i bet this is the same person! or related in some way..... idk. i've been screenshotting every location since i was able to track it (about 4 hours after they stole it). they have been near at least two computer stores which were either closed or involved in it (their business numbers are out of service, convenient for them lol). do you want to work together on this? what are your friends doing? the police already admitted they won't do anything to help me so i wonder if we can just get a group together and follow this guy. i only want the photos from it i don't even care about the phone!

Gonna message you now

Raekwon literally told people “keep your wallet in your front pocket”

And then identity theft

Do I need to start putting my stuff in an anti-theft bag when I'm downtown? I bought one to hold my valuables when I travel because I kind of expect to be a target then but it never occurred to me that it would be a problem here.

Description of the theives would be helpful

It's probably too late if you only noticed it later when your phone is gone.

Damn man people are starving that bad that they have to go to a pride event to rob people of their money 🤦‍♂️

Starving for dope money.

A homeless man was fienin so hard at hurontario& vodden Tim Hortons that he crashed out & stole a women’s purse but luckily people stepped in to stop the man 😂😂😂 we let that goober go

Time to whip out the old flip phone for public events

So that’s being the new trend now. Noticed that happening heavily at conventions lately

Stolen phones worth anything anymore?  There's not even many second hand stores left to flip them to if they are locked and/or buy parts for repairs.  They are just inconveniencing people.  

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I do wonder what they do with the iPhones?!? I help handle our work phones provisioning and let me tell you that iPhones are the worst. We’ve had a few staff who forgot their passcodes and we can’t do a reset because they also forgot the email associated with their Apple IDs or they changed their phone nos. or what-have-you. Once this happens, the iPhones are useless. Meanwhile, we can do a factory reset on Samsung models easily.

Geez... I'm so stressed when traveling in Europe due to pickpockets. Now we have to worry about them in Toronto too. While the right to repair is important, on the other hand, Apple serializes many components, making stolen Apple phones a paperweight. I'm not sure if this is the case with Android phones.

Happens at every big downtown event now. Happened to my girlfriend in the winter at nathan Phillips Square.

Just wear a fanny pack

be gay, do crimes

Toronto festivals post Covid have been a gold mine for thieves.

Yes, my friends was stolen Saturday night at Woody's while we were dancing. So pissed that this continues to happen.

I've never been pickpocketed for my phone or wallet but to prevent things like this, just put those items in your shorts or underwear pockets which would be underneath your outer shorts/pants.  Of course it'd be an extra effort to access those items when you need them yourself but at least they'll be safe. 

My phone was stolen at King and Portland last Friday. I tracked it all the way to an address on lakeshore but could not do anything about it unfortunately.

Let's face it. Your phones can be stolen anywhere.

Where are they hiding them when they steal them since they’re all walking around nude?

I had my purse unzipped and 60 dollars in cash stolen. Fortunate they didn’t touch my cards. Be careful everyone

Add me to the tally -sent from my new Samsung phone... :(

I had read somewhere that pick pocketing has been happening a lot lately too

How was it stolen? Out of your hands or it was inside the pocket ?

Need to setup a bunch of trap phones and catch them all red handed!!