Might have a avoided some trouble today

[Burlington]

Was in a less than salubrious part of town earlier today in the midlands of England when a white Vauxhall with three gents pulls up alongside and the front passenger ask for the time whilst indicating to his wrist.

Immediately something felt off - which car doesn’t display the time and who doesn’t have a phone on them.

I had my jacket on covering my wrists so reached instead for the phone in my jeans pocket to check, rather than read my watch.

That was that, off they went down the street only to repeat what looked like the same thing with someone else a bit further down.

Obviously very strange behaviour and I’m convinced they were up to no good whatever the end game they have planned may be.

With hindsight - keeping on walking and offering zero response may have been the best option but I thought this way it may at least throw them off the scent a bit as I was wondering if they had seen something on my wrist and wanted to confirm what it was, so went for my phone instead rather than confirm and reveal that yes, indeed, I was wearing a watch.

Seeing them stop someone else makes me think it was a random thing - or perhaps how I was dressed as I wasn’t blending in as well as i could have, but in any case feels like a potentially lucky near miss.

Goes to show - keep your wits about you when out and about.

[Zakalwe]

Nobody asking for the time of day, a cigarette or a lighter has good intentions.

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Nobody asking for the time of day, a cigarette or a lighter has good intentions.

Yes - sadly seems increasingly to be the case these days.

[Black_5]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Nobody asking for the time of day, a cigarette or a lighter has good intentions.

This is true.

A friend of mine used to go up to pretty girls, point at his watch and ask them to partake in various sexual acts with him in a language other than English.

Most often, they would just tell him the time, sometimes he would get told off, (if they understood or realised he was wearing a watch), and I can remember only 1 time that it worked....

Originally Posted by Gunnar_917

^^ tells the truth on Internet forums

So many watches, So little time...

[RichM]

Sounds like you did all the right things. Hopefully it won’t happen again but if it does, use the phone to take a picture of the car/plate.

[Fat_ninja]

Glad it was nothing

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by Zakalwe

Nobody asking for the time of day, a cigarette or a lighter has good intentions.

I've had plenty of people ask me for cigarettes and I'm still alive

[Romeojk]

Originally Posted by tudorbaja27

I've had plenty of people ask me for cigarettes and I'm still alive

We'll, you look like Tony Soprano so of course they were gonna touch you : )


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[Burlington]

Originally Posted by Rich Mickol

Sounds like you did all the right things. Hopefully it won’t happen again but if it does, use the phone to take a picture of the car/plate.

Yes good point on the photo !

[MinMay]

You got lucky...their intention was to steal your watch.

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by minmay

you got lucky...their intention was to steal your watch.

100%

[spoilsofwar01]

Sadly we live in dangerous times, and you handle the situation well,
be safe "H"

[pickettt]

Forum rules don't apply today, or what?

[Old Geezer]

Ibtl

[tudorbaja27]

Originally Posted by Old Geezer

Ibtl

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by MinMay

You got lucky...their intention was to steal your watch.

Yes I’m pretty sure that was their intention if I had let it be seen

[JayHantz]

Glad you’re alright and good thinking! Always have to be careful and your quick thinking made sure you were not a target.

[Old Geezer]

Good thing you had your wits about you and didn't show the watch. Material things can be replaced but criminals seem to revel in causing bodily harm these days, not just robbing people.

[superdog]

Nice job. That was smart thinking.

[dba]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Forum rules don't apply today, or what?

Guess I'm not aware of the full set of rules although I have read the sticky. Perhaps enlighten me. There doesn't seem to be a gun, knife or weapon involved?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by dba

Guess I'm not aware of the full set of rules although I have read the sticky. Perhaps enlighten me. There doesn't seem to be a gun, knife or weapon involved?

A post was removed.

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

A post was removed.

[Joeguy]

I misspoke


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[crazymcmichael]

Just tell them:
Don't know man.. People like me never have to be on time, putt on your most nuts face and they will leave you alone) It is called ''manipulation'' they are the dumb breed, take your advantage of that! I mean this, they better can think you are crazier than they are otherwise your Phone might be ripped aswell. If you look extremely wealthy or ''normal'' it might even make them more afraid.. :) They all know that they are the dumber breed and they do not need to mess with the wrong guy lol..
Let this be a lesson to all of you guys when it is hot and they can actually SEE your watch…………. Be the most hard guy you ever saw in a movie and think they are just ''childs'' that will solve the problem.
In this situations guys, never be the ''polited'' businessman, the hard working good guy.. Be the good looking, rich crazy bastard that worse their selfview of being a gangster.. Be that gangster to be them the boss.
you don't need to be big and bulky, you just need to show them exactly what they don't want to see:)

In the beginning why do you think all those ''guys'' want to wear a expensive watch?
Because they think it is ''tuff'' to do so… Use that against them.

[MrTwi]

Originally Posted by Burlington

I’m convinced they were up to no good whatever the end game they have planned may be. .

I'm sorry but I don't understand this and I want to understand this because like you said, this sounds very strange. So let me get this right.

In England, there are roving gangs of thieves driving around in cars, randomly stopping people walking along the side or the road, ready to rob you of expensive watches?

I know this is a watch forum and are on everyone's mind but here is a better guess. Since your jacket covered your watch, maybe they wanted to mug you for your phone, which probably they could pawn easily? I see lots for reports of people being robbed of phones. But fancy, expensive watches? Not so much.

Just a thought.

[BisonHead]

Ok heres a glimpse for yous.

Pick pocket problem in London, Oxford St/Covent Gardens area at the time. They put up warning signs on lamposts and other street furniture. "WARNING PICKPOCKETS OPERATING IN THIS AREA"

It was monitored over a period of time, (I think it was Cambridge University but may be wrong) as people looked at the notices, they automatically checked where their wallet was! A reassurance pat on the pocket or handbag where their valuables were, "Oh its there i am ok"

Strange but very very true.

So much in fact they took down the signs, as the dips picked up on this right away. TTP's evolve as the good guys evolve, so do the the bad guys. Fact.

Somebody asks you the time, normal reaction unless prewired is to go to your wrist.

[Soneji]

I’m typically quite good at accurately tracking time unconsciously in my head so tend to give that. Or just grunt no at them if I don’t like the look of them.

[crazymcmichael]

you need to learn some russian. For some reason this kind of guys are Always afraid for russians :P

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by MrTwi

I'm sorry but I don't understand this and I want to understand this because like you said, this sounds very strange. So let me get this right.



In England, there are roving gangs of thieves driving around in cars, randomly stopping people walking along the side or the road, ready to rob you of expensive watches?



I know this is a watch forum and are on everyone's mind but here is a better guess. Since your jacket covered your watch, maybe they wanted to mug you for your phone, which probably they could pawn easily? I see lots for reports of people being robbed of phones. But fancy, expensive watches? Not so much.



Just a thought.

Watch theft has unfortunately become more commonplace over the last few years here.

It was the exaggerated motion towards his wrist trying to get me to do the same to tell the time that seemed most unusual. One thought in those split seconds of time was - had they seen it earlier on and had followed me to double check, so no way was I going to use it to read the time off.

Using the phone was the best I came up with in the time, to throw them a red herring.

Phone theft does happen but if they wanted to steal a phone you could assume near to 100% of the population are carrying one and not need the charade to get them to reveal it.

Not sure if that explains it a little better ?

[Burlington]

Originally Posted by crazymcmichael

you need to learn some russian. For some reason this kind of guys are Always afraid for russians :P

I could have shouted something back in German but not sure that would have had the desired effect.

In this instance overstepping didn’t feel like the right route to go down.