How to bounce back from a stolen phone
- Ward B
- May 2, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Oct 20, 2024
A fun night out quickly turned into a stressful ordeal when my phone was stolen in Medellin, Colombia. Here’s how I navigated the situation and what I learned from the experience for the future.
What happened...
Medellin is known for its vibrant nightlife, and like any enthusiastic traveler, I was eager to experience it firsthand. The party venue closed at 2 AM, typical for Medellin, and the street was full of people. Already a bit aware of the dangers of Medellin, I ordered a taxi inside the venue and put the phone in the front right pocket of my jeans. Luckily, I was sober, something I highly recommend all tourists when going out by yourself in a foreign city.
I navigated through the busy street, since all places were closing down, when I suddenly was pushed at my left by a local woman. After raising my voice and complaining to her, I continued my way to the ordered taxi. A dozen steps further, I checked my front pocket and then realized the push on the left was just a distraction to steal my phone.
I turned around and saw two women looking at me, the one that pushed me and her thieving accomplice, and crossing the street in a hurry. In the heat of the moment, my first instinct was to chase after the thiefs, which I did for a few meters. However, I quickly realized that this could lead to further danger amd potentially being on the receiving side of a knife.
So I swallowed my pride and returned to the ordered taxi which brought me to my Airbnb. Once I arrived there, I scheduled a swipe of the stolen phone (it was already turned off). Thankfully, I had taken some precautionary measures which greatly further aided my recovery process.
What I learned
Here’s a breakdown of how I managed to rebound quickly from the theft, without further impacting my travel plans:
1. Block the phone immediately and use a PIN code
The first action I took once I was at the AirBnb was to block my stolen phone to prevent any misuse of data. This helped secure any personal information and minimized potential damages. A phone can be expensive, but the money on your accounts is potentially a bigger risk.
My phone was also protected by a PIN code, so the thiefs were unable to enter the phone and access the banking or messaging apps.
As a precaution, I did notify my close relatives and friends about the stolen phone and to not trust any incoming messages or money requests for the upcoming future.
2. Spare phone + home SIM card
Before my trip, I had packed an old spare phone as a backup, which turned out to be a lifesaver. Moreover, my SIM card and passport were safely stored at my Airbnb, which was crucial for the next steps
To set up your banking and messaging apps, very often your home country SIM card is necessary to log in. Many travellers store their home SIM in their cellphone cover or even keep them in their device. I believe it is much safer to keep this SIM in your spare phone, which you leave at your accomodation. So you can restore all access more easily
If you are using MFA (Multi Factor Authentication), have the app also installed at your spare phone. The same goes for any banking app that you use. This step was essential not only for personal security but also to reestablish my access to funds, which is critical when you’re in a foreign country.
foreign country.
Keep a spare phone and your home SIM card at the accomodation for fast rebounding.
3. Prioritize physical safety
It’s natural to react emotionally when something valuable is stolen. However, it’s important to assess the situation calmly and prioritize personal safety over possessions.
The ability to stay calm under pressure and adapt to the circumstances can significantly affect the outcome of challenging situations. Staying sober(ish) helps to think clearly and to deal with the aftermath faster.
4. Backup your phone data
Besides theft, your phone is also easier to get lost or broken during travels. Although less dramatic, most of the advice above applies to situations of phone loss as well.
If you use your phone for pictures, make sure they are backed up to the cloud. This way an inaccessible phone does not mean that you have lost all the pictures of your trip. You can back up manually to another device, but I definitely recommend services like Google Photos or Apple Cloud.
Other data like your contacts is also useful to be backed up and is included in these cloud services as well.
Prioritize personal safety over possessions, always!
5. Let it go
Once you have taken the necessary steps to prevent further damage, you can relax.
Traveling is about exploring and growing, and sometimes, it’s also about overcoming unexpected challenges. While the theft of my phone was a setback, the precautions I had taken allowed me to manage the situation effectively without it derailing the remainder of my trip.
In fact, since the pickpocketing was executed so skillfully, I had to appreciate their craft. To each their hustle, unfortunately. Accept the loss and move on with your travel.
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