An Encounter with Mobile Theft: A Personal Experience in Karachi’s Rush

Hello, how is everyone? I hope everyone is well. Today, a terrible incident happened to me, which has become quite common now, and that is mobile snatching or taking mobiles from bags, especially in Karachi, where it has become a routine to snatch mobiles from people or take them from someone's bag in a crowded place.

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Something similar happened to me today. When we left the university to go back, we sat on the bus as usual. But instead of sitting, we were standing, as the bus was so crowded that we couldn’t even stand properly, and I was worried that someone might take my mobile in such a crowd. That's exactly what happened, and I didn't even realize it. When those ladies got off after taking the mobile, I thought to check, but when I checked, I was shocked – my mobile was gone. At that time, I didn't even notice that my inner zipper was also open and my wallet was also missing. I ignored everything because of the mobile.

Then I immediately got off the bus and followed those ladies, but they disappeared suddenly as if by magic. I was running everywhere there, hoping I could find that woman and wouldn’t let her go, but it was something that was meant to go, so it went. Someone there then told me that the police station in this area was right in front, so I should file a report. People there were helpful, so when I filed the report, they told me that I would have to go to the police station in another area. They arranged transport for us, and we went there. I gave an application, and they took all the details, stamped it, and gave me a copy. Then I came home.

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I am still feeling sad, but what can we do? The only relief is that the mobile was quite old; I bought it in 2019. At least, thankfully, it had an IMEI number, so we provided it to the police station for tracing. My dad also filed a complaint with the CPLC. When I got home, my dad said, "No worries, if it's your fate, you'll get it back; otherwise, we’ll get another one." I replied that another mobile can always come, but my data, my very private pictures… Well, my mobile was locked with codes, and only my university data for three years was on it, which I regret losing. Otherwise, if they try to sell my mobile, they won't get anything, as it was itself at its last stage. Anyway, it was something that was meant to happen, and it did.

Thankfully, my Instagram, WhatsApp, everything was logged in on my laptop. When I got home, I even noticed that my wallet was still in my bag, and the inner zipper was open, so I realized that they had also taken the wallet, but it must have fallen out of their hands, so it was saved. It had my money, CNIC, USB, everything. My mother said not to file a complaint, "Let it go if it’s gone," but I said no, I would do as much as I could.

Today, for the first time in my life, I went to the police station, and that too alone. My two friends were with me. When I found out that there are so many things a person has to do alone one of my friends even suggested getting off that bus because it was too crowded, but before we could get off, everything had already happened.

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The biggest problem in our country is that there is no immediate response. You file a report, and when they have to find it, they will find it. Like, there are no CCTV cameras that could immediately catch such people, and these people have no fear of what answer they will give when they are held accountable after death. Sad reality.