We Got Robbed Yesterday
The NBA All-Star games came to the Amway center in Orlando yesterday. And the Daytona 500 events have been going on all week in Central Florida. Plus antique car shows and other things.
Saturday morning I was listening to the radio blowing out my hair (a big deal for me even with meds). I heard about traffic being bad from so many events including some financial conference. The host said, “It’s so exciting to have Orlando be like LA for the weekend.” Maybe too much so.
I underestimated the effect the traffic would have across the whole city so I was stuck sitting still in my Suburban on East Colonial for about half an hour. So, we were 25 minutes late to the meet-up we had planned and several folks went home. Discouraged but still hungry, I decided we should get lunch and wait to see if anyone else arrived. I kept saying we’ll have a good day if we visit with even one person. Eventually there were four of us talking intensely in an almost empty restaurant.
Feeling chilly, I suggested Katie Beth buy us some coffee – with my credit card of course. When she could not find my wallet, I reviewed the last five minutes carefully and realized when I had been robbed as someone bumped my purse. Then store manager remembered how suspiciously the four big guys had acted, leaving suddenly after buying only one sandwich dine-in sandwich.
The police had to navigate the same traffic we did – the ones who weren’t already occupied with Jeremy Lin being here – so I had to wait half hour for an officer to arrive. Meanwhile, I called my banks and learned where the robbers were using my credit cards to buy thousands of dollars of electronics and gift cards – like right across the street at Target. The female officer was apologetic, sympathetic, and smart. Our new friends were a big help too.
The police followed the thieves over the next couple of hours as my banks reported to me where each card was swiped and we were able to get a good bit of evidence. If I can acquire use of the photographs of all four men and their female accomplice, I’ll post them online for the world to see. Maybe we can do even more to help catch these thugs who think they need their sleazy lifestyle more than my kids need their mom to be able to buy groceries.
When we finally pulled out of the shopping center last evening, we saw another female police officer trying to break up a brawl between two women in the parking lot. We steered around a fender bender where a crowd was gathering. In the next five minutes as we headed out of town, we encountered no less than 15 police cars with lights flashing, heading in various directions for assorted emergencies. I visited LA once, but it was a sunny morning and nothing like this.
I was on the phone for hours with my banks and the Bluetooth wasn’t working right so my hands are particularly angry today. I think they thought they deserved a restful day after the blow drying. But I had a phone to each ear several times yesterday and my hands HATE phones.
You never know what a day will bring. Or a life, right? Nothing about my life now is the way I expected it to be. But we find a way to face what comes today and look forward to tomorrow being better. Friends who care and peace from God help me – I hope you have them when you need them too.
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rawarrior oh Kelly! What a horrible experience! I’m so sorry that happened to you.
Very disappointing. Like it wasn’t difficult enough just getting ready & going there ;(
yep. you get it, Ruby.
So sorry you had to go through that. Like as if life didn’t already enough woes and worries. I hope that those “thugs” will get caught and that they will get exactly what they deserve according to the law. In the meantime I will pray for a swift and complete resolution to this situation.
Well that stinks!! I can relate as a few weeks ago I had my car stolen out of my driveway and taken for a joy ride and wrecked. And of course Murphy’s law would have it I had not comprehensive on it…2002 car. It just infuriates me when people think they can do this. I hope they catch them and throw them in jail and throw the key away. I read that they picked up three teenagers this past Friday and they are now facing 20 counts of larceny and 1 grand larceny but I am not sure if these are the thugs that stole my vehicle. Hopefully I will hear by Monday. And just hint…I ALWAYS write on my bank and/or cc cards…ask for photo ID rather then signing my name. This way the cashier almost always asks for photo ID :-)Truly sorry to read this.
Unfortunately they usually don’t ask for id. Many situations where you swipe your card and no one needs to see it.
Sorry you had such an awful day yesterday. I have had a similar experience but didn’t have quite the excitement to go along with it. I hope they catch them all. Glad you were able to contact your banks so quickly. Rest for the rst of the day should be in order for you!
Amy
I am so sorry that happened to you Kelly. I know how that feels when that happens and it is a terrible feeling. Hang in there,it will get better.
rawarrior fun times … Not
Just what you DIDN’T need! I’m so sorry you have to deal with all this.
My hands also really hate holding telephones. I also have a major hearing loss. So I now use cordless telephones with good speaker phones. That way I can set the phone down nearby and still hold a conversation. It’s the only way I can effectively use telephones now. Maybe that could help you a bit. Good luck!
I use speaker phone a lot too. and bluetooth hands free. but it was a new blue tooth and I couldn’t figure out how I must have muted it – and it was public place. my hands were screaming.
btw, i have 2 children who’ve been severely hard of hearing all their lives – legally deaf – and they can only use certain types of cell phones that are specially made w/ a type of t9-coil inside that works w/ the aids. I dont know if that will work for u.
thank u for the sympathy. i could not just tell the credit card company or the police – Oh i have RA I can’t handle this – It was the only way i was gonna get any info to try to go aftter the robbers.
I am so bummed for you!!! Rox and I should have driven over and been there. I’m so observant I might have spotted the creep grrrr. I’m really sorry you have the nightmare of getting a new DL and who knows what else. grrrr. If they catch them I want them to see pictures of severely deformed RAD hands so they are forced to reflect on what you are fighting and the good you are doing in this world.
rawarrior That’s awful. I hope things work out well & go smoothly for your. Speakerphone’s a good friend of mine cuz my hands are the same.
Did this really need to happen to you? We are so sorry to hear about this. Just know that you are supported and prayed for. I am thankful that you were not harmed in any way. Take care and God Bless You!
David
Yep it happened. LONG day and could not go home & say, sorry I have RA, you take care of it officer. But there is a good shot we may catch them. I can’t buy my plane tickets – don’t have DL. etc. its a mess. But I didnt get hurt.
Hi.
Romans 16:20 (KJV) And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Sorry to know that, mainly because of your hands.
So sorry to hear about this. Hope it can get worked out as quick as possible.
Like you said Kelly you weren’t physically hurt (hands aside, I hear ya on that one) and thank the Lord for that. I hope these nasty low lifes will get what they deserve & I hope you never have to go through anything like that again. Hugs xx
I feel for you, my family went out for a lobster dinner on a Friday night . I was at a red light with my Mom and sister in the car in front of me when we were smashed from behind by a DUI, drugged 26 year old. I lost my paid for fabulous car , my sister’s car has 9000 dollars worth of damage We got a little banged up and scared witless. All this at 1030pm on a. Friday night. I had to knock on her window to wake her up at the scene…and I am very grateful we are bruised but okay…still, makes your impression of the world a little bit negative. To those of us who work so hard to stay positive, it’s a bit of a blow…I use speaker phone and then use my second phone as the digit info enterer that way I can go
slow. Here ‘s praying something good comes from this.
Hi Kelly,
Wow this is just crazy! I’m also very happy you weren’t hurt, and I hope they catch these a$$holes! I hate that people think they can just take from others!
I am so happy to live in Montana. We have our problems and we are late to get the current “hot” fashion, music etc, but I wouldn’t trade the safety and neighborliness of this state for anything.
God bless Kelly, and I hope you don’t have too rough an ordeal dealing with the fallout of this. We certainly do have enough to handle with our disease without the added stress of lowlifes.
Much love,
Raini
Kelly,
I am glad you and your family are okay and that you realized what happened so quickly. I am sorry you have had such an awful experience and hope all is back in order soon and the whole lot of them are in jail (worse is deserved but illegal).
Kelly so sorry you went through all this. I work in law enforcement and am happy to hear you guys did all the right things. getting police involved and your bank on the phone right away was the best thing you could have down. you would not believe how many people wait until the next day or several days later to try to report something, of course by then the trail is cold. Did the restaurant have surveillance cameras? those could help I am sure target does they could probably get you you lots of shots of the culprits! Hoping they catch these creeps! Wishing you better days ahead!
yes, like I said we have photos of all of them. the restaurant of the 4 big guys & the Target of the female who spent thousands with my cards. we have a lot of pieces of evidence. I hope the police will let me put the photos online or on local news. going to call them today. Ideas?
How horrible!! So sorry that happened to you. I didn’t even think there were “pick pockets” any longer. I thought people were more brassy, and just walk up and take what they want these days. Amazing, how many people think they are entitled to everything without working for it. While many of us have worked our fingers to the bone, and we can’t even have the things we work so hard for. I hope they took your card for a nice dinner out and choke on the bones.
I did try to sign up for your newsletter and look forward to reading it, but the site stalls after I enter my info.
Try to have a better day.
What a horrible experience! I am so sorry this happened to you and your family! I pray these people are found and won’t be able to do this to anyone else!
That puts such a sickening feeling in your stomach! Praying for you and your family.
OMG!!! I am so glad that you are ok. I am a good deal older than you are, but RA kind of evens things out. Several years ago I was mugged. Drive by grabbed my purse and took off. I am so glad that didn’t happen to you, but I always have you in my prayers. Perhaps we could meet some day. I live in Hudson, Fla and can still drive at least that distance. I know your hands are pissed off.
Take care, God be with you.
Blythe
Kelly! I’m so sorry. Thank God you are safe. I hope everything works out quickly and as smoothly as possible. Also hoping that the crooks are caught soon. Loving thoughts and prayers for you.
Kelly, I’m so sorry this happened to you! You have enough to deal with without this kind of stuff. I hope the police catch them, I think that posting their photos is a great idea. Glad you weren’t hurt, hope you have a much better week this week.
btw, my hands hurt if I have to hold my cell phone for very long.
Hi Kelly,
I am so sorry to hear about your ordeal. I hope you have had a chance to rest and have received more info from the police. Unfortunately, there are selfish nasty people all over the world. We just need to keep putting out as much positve energy as possible. I will be wrapping you in healing light and gentle hugs.
Oh, my. I am so sorry. I’ve had that happen to friends and we’ve gotten very paranoid about NOT hanging our purses on the backs of our chair and always making sure they’re zipped, etc. That doesn’t make your situation any easier. I just hope that (1) they catch the crooks and (2) that other than some inconvenience there is no fallout in your life. It’s a crazy world out there.
That is awful, and I’m glad that they were caught. Also know what you mean about the phones. Either my bluetooth or my new cricket phone gets bad reception, so I am stuck without a headset right now. Hands and neck do not like phones! I’m going to get a regular headset for the house phone and just use the cell for when I leave the house.
<3
Kelly,
You are an inspiration to all of us and I am so sorry that your “fun” day out was spoiled on so many levels. I hope your hands recuperate quickly and that they arrest these people. It is amazing how everything feels bigger when we have to struggle physically to do a once simple thing like holding a phone. As a newbie to this site with a recent seronegative RA diagnosis – I wanted to thank you for the wealth of knowledge that I have found here and for your continued optimism. You give me hope!
Kelly
Sending prayers and hugs to you and your family.
whoa, Nellie! That’s a little too exciting! Glad to hear you managed to get hold of your banks. Rest up, give your hands a break.
I am so sorry, Kelly! I live on the other side of the US so i don’t know how much help I’ll be in helping catch them (my friends on google + are all over here too). If I can help I will though. Stupid idiots!
What an awful experience, Kelly. I do hope they find the thieves and they get what they deserve – handcuffs and a cell at the very least. Sending prayers for healing, especially your poor hands. Sad that the world is such a mess these days.
Kelly, having RA by itself is enough to deal with. Having this happen in addition to RA is not fair, but some unexpected good will come from this. Hope you and your hands recover quickly.
I hope your hands feel better. Sorry you had a bad day. I avoid the phone often when my shoulders and neck are bad.