Lessons from an iPhone Robbery
A letter to Evanston Patch readers from your local editor.
I got robbed on the Red Line today.
As a local news editor, I've seen countless reports of this happening. Reading the police blotter every day, I've picked up on recent crime trends and have always taken extra steps to avoid being a victim. I never leave my purse hanging on a chair, for example, and I try to walk with friends in groups and stay in well-lit areas.
I also recently graduated from the Citizen Police Academy. The CPA is a free program offered through the Evanston Police Department that gives citizens an overview of all areas of the police department. We were taught specifically to identify robbers and other suspects to police officers. I even got a worksheet that outlines all the ways to describe a suspect to a 911 operator.
I thought I was prepared. I thought of myself as the wrong person to mess with; I knew all the tricks.
Then, as I sat on a fairly crowded train reading the New York Times app on my iPhone, I got robbed. And it happened so fast I didn't get a very good look at the man who did it.
While there is no way to completely prevent something like this from happening, there are a few things I learned today and I hope other people can learn from my mistakes.
Here's what I wish I had done differently, and what I hope you will do:
-Download a phone-tracking application. The Chicago Police who responded (this happened in Chicago) told me they would have had a much easier time getting my phone back if I had a GPS tracking app. They recommended a free app called "Find My iPhone." That app also allows you to delete all of your files, apps, and other information on your phone from any computer.
-Back up your phone constantly.
-If anything does happen to you, remember to get a good description of the suspect. Hair cut and color, skin color, height, weight, what the person is wearing, and any visible tattoos or other markings can help the police immensely.
-Don't keep yourself logged into applications like Twitter and Facebook on your phone. Yes it's annoying to have to log in every time, but it's much worse to have that icky feeling that your robber has access to your full name, friends list, and so on.
And, most importantly:
-Don't use your iPhone on the train. I always thought that if I just kept a tight grip or held it safely in my lap I'd be somehow immune to robbers, but I did both of those things earlier today. It seems silly, but after this happened numerous people told me that as a rule, they never use their phones when they're on the train. Next time I take the CTA, I'm bringing a book.
Janine Iamunno
5:05 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Jessica! What dedication! I'm glad you're okay but man, the lengths you'll go to for a good story...
Matthew Hendrickson
5:15 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
That's terrible! Thanks for sharing your experience with the rest of us though.
Rick Nagel
5:15 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
This is an excellent column—extremely well-written and full of valuable information that Jessica discovered the hard way. Typical Jessica, wanting to help others. I hope everyone in Evanston realizes how lucky they are to have a Patch editor who's this good—as a journalist and a human being.
Jennifer Fisher
5:22 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Lesson learned, I'm going to stop using my phone on the train. Thanks for sharing these tips! I'm glad you're OK.
Jean Whitney
5:34 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Sorry to hear. How long will it take to get a new one? What do you do about Patch in the meantime, since we are on Patch time!?
Peg McNichol
5:38 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wow, Jessica, what bad commute, eh? Thanks for sharing, though, because I'm sure your misfortune will make others wiser. True for me, in any case...
Cindy Levitt
5:38 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Glad you are ok, Jessica! Thanks for turning this into lessons learned for the rest of us.. I do stay logged into Twitter and FB on my phone. You've given me something to think about. I do have the Find My Phone App but I wonder how quickly you can delete data.
Christine Wolf
6:36 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
I'm glad you're okay and grateful you've shared the experience with us, Jessica.
Saliqa Khan
6:55 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
The most important thing is that you're OK. We can't always have our guard up every moment, so keeping that into perspective may help you better cope with your loss. In any case, thank you for sharing your story and these wonderful tips! I wish you the best! :-)
Ben Feldheim
9:45 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
Glad to hear that above all you're ok, and thanks for teaching us valuable lessons.
Jim Burstein
10:15 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
I was accosted last fall in.downtown Evanston by teens who asked me to borrow my phone to call home for a ride. I refused and 30 seconds later one of them pushed me, grabbed my phone and ran with it. A bystander called police and the police caught them and there was a line up near Grove and Ridge. The guy that robbed me pleaded guilty and will be sentenced in July.
Jessica Rudis
11:48 am on Friday, June 10, 2011
Wow. I'm sorry your ordeal was violent, but I'm so glad they caught the guy!
Sara Johnson
11:14 pm on Thursday, June 9, 2011
My computer had a hiccup as I was posting my comment so I apologize if this ends up showing twice. One trick I learned the hard way is to always keep my phone locked with a password. If the wrong password is entered too many times then it automatically deletes the phone's contents. Save's me the worry of someone getting my data at least.
J C
7:26 am on Friday, June 10, 2011
That's terrible..I hope they catch the low life that did this dastardly deed.
I know you work hard and it's just not fair to have your stuff stolen.
I will work on an App to remotly detonate your I-Phone, I hope it's in his pants pocket when it goes off...I will call it the I for an I app...Well I hope the rest of the day goes a little better for you...Best wishes, J C
Jessica Rudis
11:47 am on Friday, June 10, 2011
Thank you all so much for the nice comments, they all helped make a bad day a lot better. I should have my replacement phone by Monday, so I'll be 100% back in action by then! :)
Cindi Lash
11:36 am on Monday, June 13, 2011
Dear Jessica,
I'm so sorry for your lousy experience and I'm very glad you are OK. Thanks for sharing the experience in the hope that it will make others more vigilant. Again, very glad you are safe.
Jessica Rudis
12:29 pm on Monday, June 13, 2011
Thank you, Cindi! I hope you're doing well.