All,
I recently came across the awesome thread (save for the end parts) "This man knows who stole my phone". There was some great input by forum users on that thread and whilst my situation is probably a little more of a slow-burn and I maybe clutching at straws, I can't shake the curiosity I've got.
Here's my story so far and the request for input...
- 31st May - bag stolen from my side in a pub in London Bridge area. Contents were: wallet (with cash), house keys, passport (had just got back from business trip), dell laptop, personal mobile phone (Samsung galaxy s advanced), house keys, wedding invitation (meaning thief had both keys and address!) and paperwork. Immediately called police and began processing of getting cards, phone blocked etc.
1st June - realised that invite and keys were both in bag so had locksmith round to change house locks. (£125). I keep a spare set in my office so getting in wasn't an issue.
Called my mobile phone company to order replacement phone. Luckily I was insured but during process was told I was nearly due an upgrade (3 days away) and therefore, could get a replacement phone that way, avoid insurance excess and get better phone. Pursued that option.
Gutted to discover that I didn't have 'out and about' cover on my home insurance and therefore, no cover for locksmith or passport fees! Now added.
Made arrangements to cancel business trip to States due to start on 2nd June - considerable expense to employer and meant me picking up the programme through web-conferencing as much as I could hence lots of late nights ahead due to time difference.
- Week commencing 3rd June - booked passport replacement appointment, quickest appointment near me was Luton. So had to got there on 4th June and for £170 (fees and train fare) I had my passport sorted. I travel a lot for work so that was a relief.
- 9th June - phone call from local police station saying that they had had some of my property handed in. Attended local police station and was furious to discover that the possessions had been handed in on 1st June at 09:15am. Now have official complaint going through to understand why it took 9 days and lots of avoidable expense for them to get in touch.
Now here's where it gets both unbelievable and interesting.
25th June - with everything replaced and a few weeks down the line, I'm starting to think all this is behind me. Logged on to my internet banking to check a few things and was shocked by the low balance it was displaying. Looked a little further and found that my phone company had taken nearly £1500 for my phone bill. Started to think the upgrade wasn't such a good idea. Logged into my online phone account and discovered that there was £1200 worth of phone calls to Algeria showing up on my account. Basically what has come to light is that the phone company reactivated my SIM card to push through my upgrade but didn't deactivate it again afterwards. Ridiculously this is the only way they can process upgrades against SIMS which have been reported lost or stolen. I'm no expert but surely it's obvious that this was an accident waiting to happen. Phone company have agreed to refund all the money as it was their error and after much negotiating, have thrown in some goodwill measures too given that their mistake also meant the thief had full use of phone, without wiping it, and also access to my contacts saved on the SIM.
Where this leaves me, and here's the request for input, is I know have a list of 8 numbers, in Algeria that the thief or whomever the phone was sold onto was called between 1st and 5th June. When my new phone and SIM card arrived, the old was automatically deactivated when I activated the new one (or so I'm told).
As such, I'm thinking how best can I use these numbers to try and track down the thief. I've done a quick look to see where the Algerian numbers are located on searchpeopledirectory.com and when you zoom in it seems to come up with an area near the Universite de Skikda. Given the number of calls and duration to each of the numbers, I'm guessing that these are family members. Most of the calls were for an hour.
So what I'm thinking of doing is calling these numbers and seeing if it's possible to speak to the person on the other end and say something that may allow me to get a name, address for the person here in the UK. I have both French and Arabic speakers line up to assist.
Any thoughts on what can be said to try and get a name / address?
I recently came across the awesome thread (save for the end parts) "This man knows who stole my phone". There was some great input by forum users on that thread and whilst my situation is probably a little more of a slow-burn and I maybe clutching at straws, I can't shake the curiosity I've got.
Here's my story so far and the request for input...
- 31st May - bag stolen from my side in a pub in London Bridge area. Contents were: wallet (with cash), house keys, passport (had just got back from business trip), dell laptop, personal mobile phone (Samsung galaxy s advanced), house keys, wedding invitation (meaning thief had both keys and address!) and paperwork. Immediately called police and began processing of getting cards, phone blocked etc.
1st June - realised that invite and keys were both in bag so had locksmith round to change house locks. (£125). I keep a spare set in my office so getting in wasn't an issue.
Called my mobile phone company to order replacement phone. Luckily I was insured but during process was told I was nearly due an upgrade (3 days away) and therefore, could get a replacement phone that way, avoid insurance excess and get better phone. Pursued that option.
Gutted to discover that I didn't have 'out and about' cover on my home insurance and therefore, no cover for locksmith or passport fees! Now added.
Made arrangements to cancel business trip to States due to start on 2nd June - considerable expense to employer and meant me picking up the programme through web-conferencing as much as I could hence lots of late nights ahead due to time difference.
- Week commencing 3rd June - booked passport replacement appointment, quickest appointment near me was Luton. So had to got there on 4th June and for £170 (fees and train fare) I had my passport sorted. I travel a lot for work so that was a relief.
- 9th June - phone call from local police station saying that they had had some of my property handed in. Attended local police station and was furious to discover that the possessions had been handed in on 1st June at 09:15am. Now have official complaint going through to understand why it took 9 days and lots of avoidable expense for them to get in touch.
Now here's where it gets both unbelievable and interesting.
25th June - with everything replaced and a few weeks down the line, I'm starting to think all this is behind me. Logged on to my internet banking to check a few things and was shocked by the low balance it was displaying. Looked a little further and found that my phone company had taken nearly £1500 for my phone bill. Started to think the upgrade wasn't such a good idea. Logged into my online phone account and discovered that there was £1200 worth of phone calls to Algeria showing up on my account. Basically what has come to light is that the phone company reactivated my SIM card to push through my upgrade but didn't deactivate it again afterwards. Ridiculously this is the only way they can process upgrades against SIMS which have been reported lost or stolen. I'm no expert but surely it's obvious that this was an accident waiting to happen. Phone company have agreed to refund all the money as it was their error and after much negotiating, have thrown in some goodwill measures too given that their mistake also meant the thief had full use of phone, without wiping it, and also access to my contacts saved on the SIM.
Where this leaves me, and here's the request for input, is I know have a list of 8 numbers, in Algeria that the thief or whomever the phone was sold onto was called between 1st and 5th June. When my new phone and SIM card arrived, the old was automatically deactivated when I activated the new one (or so I'm told).
As such, I'm thinking how best can I use these numbers to try and track down the thief. I've done a quick look to see where the Algerian numbers are located on searchpeopledirectory.com and when you zoom in it seems to come up with an area near the Universite de Skikda. Given the number of calls and duration to each of the numbers, I'm guessing that these are family members. Most of the calls were for an hour.
So what I'm thinking of doing is calling these numbers and seeing if it's possible to speak to the person on the other end and say something that may allow me to get a name, address for the person here in the UK. I have both French and Arabic speakers line up to assist.
Any thoughts on what can be said to try and get a name / address?
If you were planning some vicious Vigilante style street justice, it might be worth it.
