Ladies, watch out for your handbags! Make sure to keep car doors locked and windows closed, especially if you leave your bags on the passenger seat. When out on the street, keep your bag close to you, or better yet, wear a crossbody bag.
A new tactic of pickpocketing and snatch thefts is being used on the streets of Beirut. After snatching your bag, the thieves will get in touch with you to ask for money in exchange for your documents.
One victim of this scheme told This is Beirut that while she was stuck in traffic on Clemenceau street, motorcyclists stole her handbag, which was placed on the seat beside her. Luckily, her cell phone wasn't in her handbag. A few minutes later, she received a WhatsApp call from an African number, "which can apparently be bought online and is untraceable, according to the police." "The thief asked for $200 in exchange for my wallet!" she said.
The victim went to a police station, where she was told that many complaints pertaining to the same issue have been filed.
The scenario went as follows: The lady decided to give in to the blackmail in order to get her documents back and was escorted by the police to the place chosen by the thieves, near the Cola bridge. The amount demanded went down to 75 dollars. However, despite prolonged phone conversations, the thieves quickly backed down, probably because they felt a police presence.
This sadly recurring scenario once again underscores the authorities' powerlessness in the face of the deteriorating security situation.
A new tactic of pickpocketing and snatch thefts is being used on the streets of Beirut. After snatching your bag, the thieves will get in touch with you to ask for money in exchange for your documents.
One victim of this scheme told This is Beirut that while she was stuck in traffic on Clemenceau street, motorcyclists stole her handbag, which was placed on the seat beside her. Luckily, her cell phone wasn't in her handbag. A few minutes later, she received a WhatsApp call from an African number, "which can apparently be bought online and is untraceable, according to the police." "The thief asked for $200 in exchange for my wallet!" she said.
The victim went to a police station, where she was told that many complaints pertaining to the same issue have been filed.
The scenario went as follows: The lady decided to give in to the blackmail in order to get her documents back and was escorted by the police to the place chosen by the thieves, near the Cola bridge. The amount demanded went down to 75 dollars. However, despite prolonged phone conversations, the thieves quickly backed down, probably because they felt a police presence.
This sadly recurring scenario once again underscores the authorities' powerlessness in the face of the deteriorating security situation.
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