Yelling at Phone Thieves: A Hobby
10 February 2012, 03:04 AM
#1
Yelling at Phone Thieves: A Hobby
http://letters.standupmaths.com/?p=169
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hJ65...ayer_embedded#!
Last night I had the misfortune to be on one of the last trains out from London Waterloo, the 00:09 to Guildford. I found a quiet-ish coach and settled in to stop at every station between London and my destination. Plus some other ones I swear only exist when you’re on a night train.
There were the usual fellow passengers, dotted around both the intoxication spectrum and the carriage. So no one took much notice when a rather drunk girl collapsed in a seat for a while and then got up and drifted off, seemingly looking for a toilet. However, she had left her bags behind and never came back for them.
Once we assumed she had alighted from the train, the phone in her bag began ringing incessantly. Assuming it might be her, I eventually answered it and assured a friend of hers that she had been on the train and hopefully got off at the correct stop. I said that if she didn’t come back for her bags, I would hand them in to Guildford Station last-and-found where she could easily collect them.
So I went back to my seat, still many station-stops from Guildford, and resumed my desultory twittering.
One of the other few people in the carriage though, got up and came and sat near the bag. During the casual carriage-banter when I first answered the phone, he had suggested to the whole carriage that we nick the phone. Thus I was already keeping an eye on him when he moved over and then took the phone out of the bag.
I was – to say the minimum – outraged.
So I began initially tell him to put the phone back before escalating to a full yelling-at, during which I had the presence of mind to turn my phone on and video the whole thing. I even asked him first if he minded me photographing him stealing the phone and he was so brazened, he held it up to pose with it. That is the screen-grab at the top of this page.
Spoiler Warning: I’ll post the video soon (although, it does contain a lot of swears: sorry kids) but he did eventually get off at the next stop and leave with the phone.
Naturally, I’ve already re-played the whole thing in my head countless times, but I’m happy that I didn’t resort to physically stopping him, or kicking his bike etc. If someone was defending my lost phone, I wouldn’t want them to risk violence. But I’m kicking myself for not moving sooner or putting the bag somewhere safer. So yeah: lots of yelling, all of it ineffectual.
I did hand the bag in at Guildford, with a note inside explaining what happened and my email address (Always carry a pen kids! (that advice will make up for the swearing)) and today I’ll report it to the Transport Police. I’ve already caused one phone thief to be convicted and sentenced, I’m keen for another.
If you do recognise this dick who would get the last Waterloo to Weybridge train, please get in touch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hJ65...ayer_embedded#!
Last night I had the misfortune to be on one of the last trains out from London Waterloo, the 00:09 to Guildford. I found a quiet-ish coach and settled in to stop at every station between London and my destination. Plus some other ones I swear only exist when you’re on a night train.
There were the usual fellow passengers, dotted around both the intoxication spectrum and the carriage. So no one took much notice when a rather drunk girl collapsed in a seat for a while and then got up and drifted off, seemingly looking for a toilet. However, she had left her bags behind and never came back for them.
Once we assumed she had alighted from the train, the phone in her bag began ringing incessantly. Assuming it might be her, I eventually answered it and assured a friend of hers that she had been on the train and hopefully got off at the correct stop. I said that if she didn’t come back for her bags, I would hand them in to Guildford Station last-and-found where she could easily collect them.
So I went back to my seat, still many station-stops from Guildford, and resumed my desultory twittering.
One of the other few people in the carriage though, got up and came and sat near the bag. During the casual carriage-banter when I first answered the phone, he had suggested to the whole carriage that we nick the phone. Thus I was already keeping an eye on him when he moved over and then took the phone out of the bag.
I was – to say the minimum – outraged.
So I began initially tell him to put the phone back before escalating to a full yelling-at, during which I had the presence of mind to turn my phone on and video the whole thing. I even asked him first if he minded me photographing him stealing the phone and he was so brazened, he held it up to pose with it. That is the screen-grab at the top of this page.
Spoiler Warning: I’ll post the video soon (although, it does contain a lot of swears: sorry kids) but he did eventually get off at the next stop and leave with the phone.
Naturally, I’ve already re-played the whole thing in my head countless times, but I’m happy that I didn’t resort to physically stopping him, or kicking his bike etc. If someone was defending my lost phone, I wouldn’t want them to risk violence. But I’m kicking myself for not moving sooner or putting the bag somewhere safer. So yeah: lots of yelling, all of it ineffectual.
I did hand the bag in at Guildford, with a note inside explaining what happened and my email address (Always carry a pen kids! (that advice will make up for the swearing)) and today I’ll report it to the Transport Police. I’ve already caused one phone thief to be convicted and sentenced, I’m keen for another.
If you do recognise this dick who would get the last Waterloo to Weybridge train, please get in touch.
Last edited by pimmo2000; 10 February 2012 at 03:06 AM.
10 February 2012, 06:47 AM
#3
Low life scum ive added this to my face book hope he gets caught, but you should of ran over and booted him right in his cocky face, **** wish i was there ide of jump on his fuc king bike as well , looks like a bit of a crackhead around the eyes
10 February 2012, 10:22 AM
#4
Scooby Regular
Should have stabbed him several times in the neck with the pen in an "Joe Pesci" style rage and put the blood stained phone back in the bag with a note and £5 apologising for the blood stains and the £5 for the cleaning bill.
You know if you post this in the usual places and youtube with enough momentum it could go viral - They'll be a mix eventually with your voice removed and someone shouting "FENTON!" at him.
Seriously though get it around and you'll be on BBC Breakfast within the week.
EDIT - sorry but I haven't watched the vid being in work but did this happen to you Pimmo? if not then most of the above is even more cobblers then it was before I realise I may have made a mistake..
You know if you post this in the usual places and youtube with enough momentum it could go viral - They'll be a mix eventually with your voice removed and someone shouting "FENTON!" at him.
Seriously though get it around and you'll be on BBC Breakfast within the week.
EDIT - sorry but I haven't watched the vid being in work but did this happen to you Pimmo? if not then most of the above is even more cobblers then it was before I realise I may have made a mistake..
Last edited by EddScott; 10 February 2012 at 10:24 AM.
10 February 2012, 12:12 PM
#6
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Ah the joyful last p!sshead train home to gford. Full of utter scum (to the point they stopped putting a guard on at one point, don't know if thats still the case)
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10 February 2012, 12:32 PM
#8
Scooby Regular
I know that stretch very well and a mate of mine (ex sbs) is a train security guard. I will pass this on and I'm sure Jim will enjoy making sure this guy pays
It wasn't particularly clear form your post.
10 February 2012, 01:54 PM
#10
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think its getting pretty good coverage already
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml
10 February 2012, 02:58 PM
#11
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I think I would have been sorely tempted to catch him by surprise and immobilised him by twisting his arm to just below where it becomes dislocated, and asked someone else to ring 999 to get the coppers to pick him up at the next station.
Stealing seems to be becoming a way of life which some people regard as being a natural action if the chance presents itself!
Les
Stealing seems to be becoming a way of life which some people regard as being a natural action if the chance presents itself!
Les
10 February 2012, 08:09 PM
#16
Starting to get a little publicity.......the video view count has gone up by100k since this morning. Looks like the knobend is about to get his comeuppance. 
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...w-passenger.do
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...-caught-680323
http://www.lbc.co.uk/watch-train-pho...-on-film-50915
http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/n...ght_on_camera/
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standa...w-passenger.do
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...-caught-680323
http://www.lbc.co.uk/watch-train-pho...-on-film-50915
http://www.yourlocalguardian.co.uk/n...ght_on_camera/
15 February 2012, 02:53 PM
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16 February 2012, 07:22 AM
#25
Police catch train phone thief caught on camera
10:08am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in
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A man filmed stealing a mobile phone on a train and posing for pictures with his ill-gotten fare has been cautioned and fined by police.
The incident, on the 12.09am train from Waterloo to Guildford on February 2, hit the internet after comic Matt Parker made a stand.
He was sitting near an apparently drunk girl who got off and left her bag.
When a phone inside the bag rang, Mr Parker answered, explained to the person on the phone what had happened, and said he would hand it in if she did not come back.
He was so shocked by what happened next that he filmed the events and put them on his blog.
A man, later identified as a 21-year old from Addlestone, suggested to the carriage that they steal the phone.
Mr Parker said: “Thus, I was already keeping an eye on him when he moved over and then took the phone out of the bag. I was, to say the minimum, outraged.
“So I began initially tell him to put the phone back before escalating to a full yelling-at, during which I had the presence of mind to turn my phone on and video the whole thing.
“I even asked him first if he minded me photographing him stealing the phone and he was so brazened, he held it up to pose with it.”
The man in the picture left the train at Weybridge and police have appealed for information.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Following an appeal for information, a number of members of the public called to provide information about the incident.
“As a result, a 21-year-old man from Addlestone, Surrey, was identified and subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft before being taken to a police station in Victoria.
“When interviewed, the man fully admitted the offence and was handed a conditional caution with three conditions: to pay the 34-year-old victim £499, to write her a letter of apology and not to commit any further offences before June 14, 2012.
“Failure to comply with any one of the conditions could result in the caution being cancelled and the man being prosecuted for theft.
“We would like to thank the members of the public who came forward and provided information about this incident, allowing us to identify and arrest the person responsible.”
10:08am Tuesday 14th February 2012 in
Skip social links
A man filmed stealing a mobile phone on a train and posing for pictures with his ill-gotten fare has been cautioned and fined by police.
The incident, on the 12.09am train from Waterloo to Guildford on February 2, hit the internet after comic Matt Parker made a stand.
He was sitting near an apparently drunk girl who got off and left her bag.
When a phone inside the bag rang, Mr Parker answered, explained to the person on the phone what had happened, and said he would hand it in if she did not come back.
He was so shocked by what happened next that he filmed the events and put them on his blog.
A man, later identified as a 21-year old from Addlestone, suggested to the carriage that they steal the phone.
Mr Parker said: “Thus, I was already keeping an eye on him when he moved over and then took the phone out of the bag. I was, to say the minimum, outraged.
“So I began initially tell him to put the phone back before escalating to a full yelling-at, during which I had the presence of mind to turn my phone on and video the whole thing.
“I even asked him first if he minded me photographing him stealing the phone and he was so brazened, he held it up to pose with it.”
The man in the picture left the train at Weybridge and police have appealed for information.
A British Transport Police spokesman said: “Following an appeal for information, a number of members of the public called to provide information about the incident.
“As a result, a 21-year-old man from Addlestone, Surrey, was identified and subsequently arrested on suspicion of theft before being taken to a police station in Victoria.
“When interviewed, the man fully admitted the offence and was handed a conditional caution with three conditions: to pay the 34-year-old victim £499, to write her a letter of apology and not to commit any further offences before June 14, 2012.
“Failure to comply with any one of the conditions could result in the caution being cancelled and the man being prosecuted for theft.
“We would like to thank the members of the public who came forward and provided information about this incident, allowing us to identify and arrest the person responsible.”
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