Just a month before my friend got robbed in a planned manner and heard similar story from few more people whose mobiles were robbed in the bus near silk board area. After that I took so much care in travelling in bus. These criminals mainly operate during late evening when there is so much rush in the bus. As my friend explained how he was robbed, they mainly look for people who wear formal pants. They are a group of 4-5 people. At the time of going out, one or two person will block the gate not letting u got out immediately, u will use ur hands to push him, then one person who is in the side will lift ur front pocket with hand or leg and one person from behind will remove ur mobile phone softly.
Now today I experienced similar kind of robbing. My bus was stopped near the silkboard signal coming through btm. As I had to do towards the left side (madiwala) and the actual bus stop for that bus was few yards away towards right side (bommanahalli), I was in hurry so I came out when bus stopped and opened its door , crossed the half road and then I felt something missing from my right pocket. That was my aluma wallet( A small mobile shaped aluminium box used to keep cards like credit card, atm, pan, DL etc). (I used to keep my mobile in left pocket so it was safe. I dont keep any leather wallet in my back pocket and just a little change amount so I m least worried about my back in the bus).As I was very very quick to realize that my aluma wallet was gone I rushed again towards the bus which was moving slowly and I was in , just few seconds before closing the door. And I noticed nobody came out after me (because all these were so sudden and all the recalls were very quick in my mind that what exactly happened) . Also while entering the door I just touched the thigh part of the 2-3 door side people as I know the touch of my aluma wallet( little different from mobile). I knew everybody was inside only ,randomly I pointed my fingers towards one person who was near me and asked about my wallet furiously and I was about to shout then one person on the steps pointed my wallet fallen on the steps. Then I picked it up, opened it and then relaxed a bit. And from the signal to the actual bus stop all the story was clear to me that how it happened.
While I was rushing towards the door one person at the door blocked me completely holding both his hands to the bars, i just started pushing , he was holding tight , I asked excuse me , he didnt respond, I took out my left hand and pushed, he pushed back, took out both my hands and pushed , Now side fellow got chance to pull my right pocket up and person behind me removed my aluma wallet.( they misunderstood it as mobile bcoz mostly people keep mobile in right pocket). they might have opened it, it was useless to them. When I rushed back in , they understood what I was looking for. The person who was not letting was disappeared from the crime scene and was hiding himself in the ladies side. And the pickpocket was afraid of being caught if I shouted ,so he dropped my wallet on the steps and the other person who was behaving like he is busy on phone, pointed towards my wallet calling me. As I had no proof against them and also got my stuff. I stepped out of bus but was very annoyed from inside.
My tips to passengers who travel in bmtc.
1.Always keep track of your mobile while standing ( they r not targetting for money in the wallets as people now a days dont keep much money and usually swipe cards).
2.If u carry a bag , keep ur mobile phone in bag.
3.Avoid wearing formal pants as far as possible.(they know their target).
4.when rush is there hold ur mobile tightly while coming out.
5.better keep listening to songs through headphones to mobile while standing till coming out.
6.mostly people will ask from passengers that whether this bus will go to ur destination or not. When u do so ask from passengers sitting at the back and not from the people near doors.
7.when u go inside crowded bus try to go at the dead end and then ask for ticket (because the attackers always stay near the doors) .
8.Dont go out in hurry and keep track of ur positions urself and avoid asking from people.
9.Try to come out of the bus at actual bus stops only.
10.Dont be late in shouting if u become a victim of phone robbery.
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