It occurred on my way home after work around 9:00 PM. By that time, it's quite dark in Toronto, Canada, the temperature dropped just below 1-degree Celsius, and the poorly lit street lights didn't help much. Exhausted from work, I took my time walking home but relieved to know that my place was just right around the corner. Until...
A black car pulls up and parks ahead in the distance.
Now, there's been occasional home invasions and robberies in my area. Once in a while, somebody gets shot/murdered, but rarely. That said, I've always thought my area was a fairly safe area and I still do. So, I didn't expect any threats.
My place was just right around the corner pass the car. When I walked closer to the vehicle, which was parked on the side of the road, a guy (we'll call him Guy) stepped out and started looking through his trunk. As I was walked pass, he had mumbled something in my direction. I peered in his direction and asked him to repeat it.
"Shoot his leg"
At that moment he immediately grabbed my arm and told me to give him all my belongings. I stepped back but he wouldn't let go, so I grabbed his arm and squeezed it until he eventually let go. Then, his friend stepped out of the car. He had a black balaclava on with his hands in the kangaroo pocket of his hoodie.
Balaclava threatened to shoot me if I didn't give him my belongings. I called his bluff. I exclaimed, "Fuck that! You're not getting shit!". Pointing to my right leg, Guy then said, "Shoot his leg". Balaclava pulled out his gun from his kangaroo pocket.
My immediate thought was, if I get shot in the leg, then I wouldn't be able to work and if I don't work, then I can't pay off my debts. And if I don't pay off my debts, then I'll be in more debt.
So I forfeited by belongings, i.e., my phone, wallet, and my backpack. Balaclava took my phone and returned to the car. Guy ravaged through my backpack and realized I had nothing of value so he returned it. As he looked through my wallet hoping to find cash, I was hoping he wouldn't take the lottery ticket I had just bought. I know! The percentage of winning $60 million is close to impossible, but you never know! Anyway, I never carry cash -- only cards. So, Guy returned my wallet. How thoughtful. He jumped in his car, then drove off.
Unfortunately, I couldn't recover much detail from last night mainly because I was too exhausted from work. All I remember from that incident was that they were just kids -- as in high school or a bit older.
I went home grumpy and sulky about my now-gone notes and write-ups. Strangely enough, I wasn't frightened or traumatized. I think the fact that all my notes were gone might have overwritten those emotions. If only they were decent enough to at least email me my notes!
On the plus side, they may refer to this incident in one of their rap songs! That's right folks I could be in a rap song one day!
What have you accomplished??
So what did I learn from this experience?
1. Backup valuable notes.
Over the years, I wrote a lot of ideas and concepts on my phone -- screenplays, stories, business plans, marketing strategies, and even more recently a lot of content for Steemit and more miscellaneous notes. The gun threat and having my phone stolen was least of my worries. I was more annoyed that all my written material was gone. AND I have a short-term memory.
So I realized, moving forward, I should keep a backup of any valuable information, either in the cloud or my laptop (which might be a bad idea, since it's slowly dying now).
2. Self-reflection is necessary.
I was reminded that I'm essentially working to pay off my debts. I'm aware a lot of people are in that situation -- grinding at some miscellaneous job to pay off debts. However, for me, I thought that perhaps I need to re-evaluate my priorities, because if my initial thought when having a gun pulled on me paying off my debts, then self-reflection is necessary.
3. Lock your devices.
I've never pattern/password locked my phone until two years ago. So I'm glad I did. Especially now because of cryptocurrency. If you haven't done so, I highly recommend it, especially if you used your phone for ANYTHING related to cryptocurrency.
In retrospect, I was fortunate to not have started a physical retaliation when Guy first grabbed my arm. I didn't even consider another person in the car. For all I know, there could've been more kids in the car and the outcome could have been worse.
I'm sure there are people on Steemit who've experienced similar situations where you had no control due to a gun threat. Ain't that a bitch?
@scuzzy, I am so glad you are safe!
Thanks @storybird!
Thanks for sharing, pretty incredible how confident and strong you were in that moment, not to cower, though, probably foolish too! :) Glad you walked away with your most important valuables in tact. Onward Indian.
I think perhaps more foolish then confident! Thanks @glowmo.
Are you saying that, when your wallet was returned, you got to keep your cards? Obviously it was not lucky that you got robbed, but I'm glad for you that it wasn't worse.
All they took was my phone, which was more important to me because of all notes I had in on it. I could have cared less if they took the wallet. Thanks @custone, you're right that it wasn't worse.
Glad it passed like that and ur doing ok Scuzzy Clawz!
Word!
Damn! Glad you're okay @scuzzy! I respect your courage and presence of mind to know your priorities. Many would've freaked out to the max Definitely something to learn there!
The smart appropriate reaction would be to do the opposite of what I did.
Probably.... lol but - most people aren't really prepared for how they would react with a gun pointed in their face.
Let me state before I go any further.... i'm SO GLAD YOU WEREN'T HURT.
but.... I also have so many valuable things on my phone (valuable to me - not to others) and wallets and cards (and even cash) can be replaced.... but the thoughts that are on my phone.... ughhhhhhhh I can totally relate. I've mostly started to email myself those notes and ideas... so that i can access it on my phone AND also still have a copy of them.
Wow. having said all that.... i cracked up at your "what have you accomplished?" LOLOL your humor... hehehehe glad they didn't take that from you!
and now i know the back story to why you don't have a phone!!!
Thanks sharing that, and respect on reflecting on that and sharing the knowledge with the community!
Appreciate you taking the time to read it.
Oh! Sorry about your lost write ups, i learnt something too. I just wrote my keys in a book of recent, it was all saved up in my phone which anything may go wrong with at any time. Well, u did a good write up there and thank goodness you are safe
Better to be prepared! Thanks for reading.
You inspired me to write about what happened to me years ago, click Here to Read, thanks
Walking away with your life, is most important. Walking away with other valuables is just incredible. Thanks for sharing your experience with us. I think I might have a rethink about setting a phonelock.
You never know. Hopefully, never like what had happened, but if you misplace it.
It could have been a lot worse! Good thing youre safe!
You're absolutely right. Thanks for taking the time to read.
Glad to hear you're ok man, any chance of the culprits getting caught?
I ultimately decided not to report it. The details are not sufficient enough. However, I do intend to inform my neighborhood. If the neighborhood works together, it would be safer for everyone.
I hope this would be the last encounter of this kind for you. I wish you had better motivation for this write, but I have to tell you that you have good storytelling skills. Stay safe!
Wow, that's a first. Thanks. I've never thought I had any storytelling skills.
This sucks so bad! Good thing your ok.
Such is life. Thanks!
I'm glad you weren't harmed. Those items stolen, other important, aren't as valuable as your life.
Truth. Thank you.
Survivor!!!!!! peace bruv!!!!
Respect!
From all I ever hear about Canada I would never imagine something like this happening. I am sorry for you, man. I have a friend that had his phone robbed like 6 or 7 times. He always had backups and developed other precaution methods like you. Phones nowadays are very intimate and precious things .
You're absolutely right. A device that's very intimate and precious must be secured.
As long as any sort of weaponry (even a toothpick) or arms exists, no place is exempt from safety. Locations we consider safe are often threatened, i.e., schools, churches, malls, etc. Hope your friend figures out how to avoid those situations!
I like your articles, i up voted yours
can you up vote my article please ? pretty please? :)
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I'm so sorry you went through this!! Sending lot's of love your direction!!
I feel the love! Thank you @thehoneys!
It was scary experience.
@scuzzy, your reflections are things we should all keep in mind. So scary.
Thanks @karencarrens. It was just a friendly reminder under inconvenient circumstances. Especially in this digital age when information is valuable.
Glad you are okay. You got good angels :)
I believe the angel's name is @simgirl.
That's a great post, people are desperate, and the Young probably more than others, and it's interesting that of all the things they could have it was your phone that was most valuable to them, perhaps your life to you🔫☺️🎶🎲🎯
You're absolutely right. I was thinking, it might be less risky to just get a job?
It seems like your more than halfway to creating your own job here on steemit☺️🍭🔔
bless you.
man WTF that sucks man i'm glad you're good! Bless up bro!