I WAS ROBBED

I was robbed in broad daylight in the middle of the afternoon while walking back to my apartment in the one block alleyway that leads to my apartment building. I was not injured, threatened or scared. It just made me a bit angry. So here it the full story.

He was a young athletic Mexican, wearing a black Tshirt and shorts and wearing white runners. Nothing about him said poor or needy. Was it a lark on his part, a dare or maybe he is just evil I don’t know. But he knew what he was doing. He had obviously seen me put money in the coin purse waited until I was halfway up the alley and no one behind me and close to the point he could turn off to the other alley. If he had gone straight towards my door way he would have had to pass the congregation of old men always sitting there and might have been recognized.

I had purchased this coconut hat a year ago but never wore it because it was plain and hat bands and ribbons didn’t seem appropriate. A friend recommend I see Rosealba to do the flower painting I wanted. I brought her the hat Saturday evening at her tourist stand at the far end of my alley and she had it ready for me Sunday late afternoon. Just in time for me to wear it to a dinner party I had been invited to. After paying her I had trouble stuffing the bills back in my coin purse that is my Mexican wallet, the zipper was uncooperative and took me longer than usual. I’m sure now I was being watched at that point. I turned and headed back up my alley to get ready for the party, I still had the coin purse in my left hand when a young athletic man ran up from behind me, with both his hands swiped the coin purse from my hand and ran like hell turning behind the food court to go to Pazole alley. I yelled STOP THIEF, but their was no one close around hear.

I will always be thankful that he only tried for my coin purse, my real purse was slung over my shoulder containing phone, glasses and keys to my apartment. All of that would have been expensive and a nightmare to replace. Had he tried for that, the chances of me being knocked to the ground or injured would have been greatly increased.

Best I can figure he got between 800 and 1000 pesos, $35- $50, not much but would have kept me in fun for a day or two. The hard part is I had one credit card and two debit cards in it also. It’s not too difficult to block the cards, but my debit cards are my only way of accessing money while I am here. This happened on Sunday night and no live person available at the bank to let them know my Mexican address to send the replacement cards to. So my job today is contacting the banks and seeing how long before I can get them here. Fortunately I still had a some pesos back at my apartment, hopefully enough to last until new cards arrive. And I do have a spare credit cards if it comes to that.

This did not happen because it is Mexico, it could have happened anywhere. I am not fearful because of it, but will be more cautious down the road.

But there is always a silver lining in every mishap. I had already prepared my “take to” for the dinner party, and after blocking all cards I quickly changed clothes and made it to the party almost on time. I had a wonderful time with great friends. No sense crying over spilled milk. And I love my new painted hat. Signing off KO