WARNING: to those visiting ayu, pick pockets

[ohsixthirty]

^thats why when i'm in public i just assume that pretty much any stranger who comes up to me is trying to scam me for money or steal from me.

[sesshy]

That's why I have a lock on my bag... Where I live, we have really high crime rates so I have to be safe about my cards, phone and money. Because we depend on it. So anywhere you go, make sure you're safe.

I don't know which iPhone you have... but do you have iOS5? You don't have the 'Find my iPhone' app installed? Sorry that has happened. :/

[MemorialAddress]

Honestly, this is just a good lesson as to why you don't talk to strangers. Sorry but if some random ass guy came up to me and started asking me those things, I would either walk away or ask to see his police badge. You can't just trust what some person tells you.

[owlflight]

Although your phone was taken, thank you for sharing this. I personally have not been to London but I am one of those people who is so paranoid about losing things while overseas. I'm not sure how to describe this item but when I went to Ireland last year, I had this thing that went around your waist and could be concealed underneath your shirt. It was like an extra pocket to hide things where it would be pretty obvious if someone tried to take anything.

[KillTime111]

Originally Posted by MemorialAddress

Honestly, this is just a good lesson as to why you don't talk to strangers. Sorry but if some random ass guy came up to me and started asking me those things, I would either walk away or ask to see his police badge. You can't just trust what some person tells you.

i know and agree... i`ve dealt with many issues before in different countries..

[JackieRos]

That is so crazy and I hope you get it back.
Do you have like a warranty or something?

Originally Posted by tokyoxjapanxfan

Things like this make me remember not every place is like Tokyo.

courtesy is everywhere

[relmy]

Central London is pretty safe if you just have your wits about you.

What applies in London applied in any big city, you won't need an extra bag under your clothes unless you're carryinh 100% of your money etc... with you, which you shouldn't do anywhere.

I think this thread is making London sound worse than it is :S I don't think anybody needs extra preparation for safety than any other city, just don't do anything you wouldn't do wherever you live.

All the people around, and involved in it, makes it sound like they were targeting people.

[C+R+E+AYUMI]

I'm sorry for you

[letter]

Honestly, London is just a big city, things like these are bound to happen, and they can happen anywhere in the world.

[Blasterion]

sorry to hear that sucks to have that happen to you.

I would've died if somebody had stolen my bag of Ayu stuff while I was there... and I've had been standing there alone for quite a while, but always near/next to the entrance of the hotel.

Sp please ppl who are still going, take good care and watch over your things

[koumori]

Originally Posted by relmy

I think this thread is making London sound worse than it is :S I don't think anybody needs extra preparation for safety than any other city, just don't do anything you wouldn't do wherever you live.

Sure, only because this thread is concentrating on the negative and warning people about what could happen. I've been visiting London all my life and nothing has happened to me. However, people are visiting from all over the world..so having some tips around isn't a bad thing.

[relmy]

Originally Posted by Koumori

Sure, only because this thread is concentrating on the negative and warning people about what could happen. I've been visiting London all my life and nothing has happened to me. However, people are visiting from all over the world..so having some tips around isn't a bad thing.

And I live in London and nothing has ever happened to me.

It's a warning for any big city, anywhere, whenever you travel. I just don't want people being paranoid when seeing Ayu because of an incident that seems like a planned targeting of someone, not a random pickpocketing that it's harder to avoid. I know this sounds harsh, but like other people have said, this is why you don't let strangers go through your stuff.

When I went to Claridges, we spread out at some points, and some people just left their bags unattended on a street corner, I said "you should take your bags with you", and they didn't see a problem leaving it where the porters could see. The porters are not looking, they're not checking your stuff, they have a job to do. Don't let anyone else take responsibility for your stuff, even other Ayu fans. Just... why would you do that? Mayfair is posh and expensive but that's why people target stuff there, more likely to get something worth more.

[koumori]

^ As I said in my first post right after the OP, I said common sense is the best thing to use. Use it, and you should be fine. I think it's just in case some people travel to London that have never been to a large city before. Besides, when you're in a different country it can be a little disorientating..not knowing if it's normal for police officers to look through your stuff, etc. I know that sounds weird but when my friend travelled to America, she was worried that she'd make some stupid mistake when it came to things like that.

I'm sure no one will take this the wrong way, as if London is really dangerous..it isn't. You just have to take precautions like anywhere else.

[tokyoxjapanxfan]

This thread isn't targeting and pointing fingers at London saying that it's dangerous and you need to guard yourself at every moment possible.

This guy was near Ayu's hotel, where people from AHS are gathering, and had something stolen. He's just letting people know it happened and to be careful.

These things of course happen everywhere, it's just this this incident happened to someone near Ayu's hotel while waiting for Ayu.

[MemorialAddress]

This is why our parents taught us not to talk to strangers

[Chandrachan]

Just be safe when travelling to big cities specially Capital cities. If a person does seem dodgy and is making you uneasy walk away or tell them to leave - just start shouting it'll make them leave

[thesweetseason]

Originally Posted by relmy

And I live in London and nothing has ever happened to me.

It's a warning for any big city, anywhere, whenever you travel. I just don't want people being paranoid when seeing Ayu because of an incident that seems like a planned targeting of someone, not a random pickpocketing that it's harder to avoid. I know this sounds harsh, but like other people have said, this is why you don't let strangers go through your stuff.

When I went to Claridges, we spread out at some points, and some people just left their bags unattended on a street corner, I said "you should take your bags with you", and they didn't see a problem leaving it where the porters could see. The porters are not looking, they're not checking your stuff, they have a job to do. Don't let anyone else take responsibility for your stuff, even other Ayu fans. Just... why would you do that? Mayfair is posh and expensive but that's why people target stuff there, more likely to get something worth more.

I don't think it will make people paranoid more than brush up on their common sense. This doesn't give London a bad name at all. These things are just bound to happen in any environment with a large amount of people. I let other Ayu fans keep an eye on my bags, as I did for theirs. The amount of nice people in this world outweigh the horrible people.

[Bad Wolf]

Originally Posted by ExodusUK

I'm really sorry to hear this, but yes people don't even engage anyone like this unless they're police. A foreign person like this has no right to be asking to look through your things, even a British police officer can't ask to do on the street without a warrant or suspicion for arrest.

Pretty much this. I'm really sorry that this happened to the OP, because it's total balls to lose something so important, but I also feel like this could have been completely avoided.

[kendelle]

I'm sorry that happened to you! I hope you can at least recover some of the phone's costs....I don't know much about iPhones but don't they have a tracking function? Or can you remotely install one from the app store? I hope you can get it back even if it's going to take a while

Such a shame to have you experience of meeting Ayu marred by such a sad event But thank you for posting a warning for the rest of those hoping to go!

[relmy]

Originally Posted by thesweetseason

I let other Ayu fans keep an eye on my bags, as I did for theirs. The amount of nice people in this world outweigh the horrible people.

There are more nice people than horrible, but on the off chance something happens - like they get into a situation described by the poster - they can't really be responsible for your stuff.

If someone asked me to watch their stuff, I'd really tell them to take it with them. Convenience isn't worth me getting distracted and not being able to watch their stuff.

On the street in a city, I'd only leave a bag with probably 1 or 2 people I know. I'd be hesitant to let any of my possessions out of my sight. Paranoid? Maybe. But I'd rather be responsible for my own stuff.