PBH / Colombia / Forums (active) Travelguide Cheap hostels Pictures

ANOTHER Seniors, BEWARE!

Again, an older family member living in Bogota was the victim of a theft (that's right, for a second time in less than 6 months). Of all places she was shopping INSIDE a Home Center store. She was looking at some plants with her domestic employee so she wasn't completely alone, when they were approached by two women while looking at some artificial plants, and one of the strangers started talking to the maid about the plants, "Wow, are those real?'' etc. in the meantime the other woman snatched my relative's purse and split for the exit.

$300,000COP in the purse, plus credit card, cedula, important papers, all gone. The employee rushed to the door but they were no where to be found.

Then, I'm sure in a few days she'll get a phone call from another stranger saying they found her purse in the street and would she like to pay a reward for them? Of course she'll say yes and she'll end up paying the thieves again for bringing her papers back.

Sadly, seniors are easy targets. Beware of strangers approaching you, no matter how friendly they seem to be. Hold on to your valuables and be aware of your surroundings.

By mrgizmo on Mar 10, 2009, 10:22 in Friendly Talkzone.

Bill Turley (Moderator) (Trustee board) (☼Travelguide writer) says on Mar 10, 2009, 12:34:

Thanks to my leg problems I hold most of our money when we go shopping. My wife has less than 100,000 COP and I would love to have someone try to rob me of the million or so that I sometimes carry. If any stranger put their hands in the car they would be lucky to get it out intact.
I tried to post a photo but I was unable to

Mr. Bill Somondoco

0 funny, 0 helpful.

mrgizmo says on Mar 10, 2009, 13:04:

The problem is thieves don't target people who are able to fight back or chase them, too much work, that's why they target senior citizens. My relative is in her 80s, an easy target.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

0 funny, 0 helpful.

CakeDesigner-wannabe says on Mar 10, 2009, 22:17:

These thieves are cowards and losers

0 funny, 0 helpful.