Robbed of iPhone XS Max in Vancouver

[unknowncoast]

Last weekend while walking back to my hotel in Vancouver I was punched in the eye out of nowhere by a Hispanic male and fell to the ground. They were 2 big guys. They stole my iPhone quickly and ran off. I don't have the Washington CCW only the Oregon. I feel really bad about what happened. I think I should have fought back somehow and gave up too easy. I was only about a block from the extended stay where I was staying. Make sure you carry when traveling to Vancouver. This was a terrible experience and I am going to apply for the Washington permit right away.

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[edzz]

Have you bricked that phone yet?

 

[albin25]

Not worth spending life in prison over a iPhone by shooting someone in the back while they run away.
Don't know how a gun or knife would have helped in this scenario anyhow, other than maybe giving your attackers more to steal from you. A blindside attack/ambush is almost impossible to neutralize, but may be possible to avoid with awareness.
Things to consider
-How did they know you had an iPhone XS Maxx? (where you playing with it while walking, oblivious?)
-They didn't take your wallet? (consider yourself lucky then, cuz you're not replacing credit cards, I.D., etc...)
-Punched "out of nowhere"? (hard to hide 2 big guys wearing sombreros...even in Vancouver)
-You ain't dead.

 

[unknowncoast]

Have you bricked that phone yet?

Yes it is bricked.

 

[Carbon]

Dont feel bad, sometimes things get out of control quickly. Be thankful it wasnt a knife to the heart, and like said above, they didnt take your wallet as well. Im glad your able to post your misfortune rather than laying in the hospital intibated. No matter how prepared or vigilant you might be, life still throws us curve balls now and again.

 

[Mikej]

Dude! That sucks so bad! How did they come at you? Frontal, flank, the rear?

I carry a blade more than a gun. Living these 35+ years in NePo I've drawn my knife hundreds of times, for opening, prying, cutting the tape, etc. Twice I've pulled it on people, that was enough to diffuse the threat. Point is, I can have that knife out quicker than I ever could my gun, at this time anyway. So I'm wondering if these mugs were on your radar before the punch? When I see hinky, spidey senses activate, I'll unsnap the sheath, sometimes go as far as get the knife in hand, in my pocket/by my side. I walk everywhere with purpose, scanning my surroundings. If people are paying attention to ME they see someone that's aware of things around them.

I'm amazed that the news isn't flooded every day with people being beaten and robed of their phones and money. There's people I see every damn day that are oblivious to their surroundings. People don't seem to even have peripheral vision any more!

 

[nwslopoke]

A guy I know was robbed in front if his apartment on 4th July a few years ago. They punched him up, had a gun and demanded his car keys.

He told them he didn't live there and just stopped to watch the fireworks. They bought it enough to leave with whatever was on him. Luckily his keys & wallet were inside.

Point is, bad things happen to good people. Do what you have to in order to survive. Never leave a public setting.

 

[MikeInOr]

That sucks! I am glad you are OK!

I live in Central Oregon and when I am walking around Portland my hand is in my front pocket on my gun. When I get the uncomfortable feeling or even just walking where there is no one else around the gun is half drawn in my pocket. It is all a matter of comfort... when you spend a lot of time in a place you develope a comfort level and slowly let your guard down. I don't know how you can live in a place where you are onguard, condition one, every second you are in public? Unfortunately I would expect you are going to experience being on guard every second you are in public for the next several months... atleast... which really sucks.

 

[DirectDrive]

Last weekend while walking back to my hotel in Vancouver I was punched in the eye out of nowhere by a Hispanic male and fell to the ground. They were 2 big guys. They stole my iPhone quickly and ran off. I don't have the Washington CCW only the Oregon. I feel really bad about what happened. I think I should have fought back somehow and gave up too easy. I was only about a block from the extended stay where I was staying. Make sure you carry when traveling to Vancouver. This was a terrible experience and I am going to apply for the Washington permit right away.

Sorry to hear.

However, if they were able to "punch you in the eye out of nowhere", then a handgun would not have helped.
That area is near the freeway which automatically means transients are going to be around.
Bad guys patrol hotel/motel areas looking for travelers that are out of their element and may present an easy mark.

I would have recommended the Hampton, a little further to the east.
It would have cost more money, but it's in a better area by comparison.

Pick your spots carefully even if they may cost a little more and stay vigilant.

 

[nammac]

Head on a swivel, always, when out in public. Danger lurks around every corner, stay armed, stay alert!!!

 

[L84Cabo]

No phone or any "thing" is worth your life. And getting sucker punched is tough to deal with. You're lucky they didn't stomp you once you were down. Two on one and already at a disadvantage because you've been hit? Let them take the damn phone. Glad you're reasonably ok.

Give some thought to the takeaways on this. Were you completely surprised by them or did you see them coming toward you initially? We're you distracted? Tired? Not paying attention? Head in your phone? Looking down instead of head up? Etc.

You don't need to answer the questions, they're purely for you to give some thought to to see if there was anything you could do differently.

Here are a couple videos that may be worth your time:

This one is on criminal assault pre indicators...signs to look for before the attack happens...

And this one on situational awareness including environmental factors.

 

[wp4]

Sorry to hear.

However, if they were able to "punch you in the eye out of nowhere", then a handgun would not have helped.
That area is near the freeway which automatically means transients are going to be around.
Bad guys patrol hotel/motel areas looking for travelers that are out of their element and may present an easy mark.

I would have recommended the Hampton, a little further to the east.
It would have cost more money, but it's in a better area by comparison.

Pick your spots carefully even if they may cost a little more and stay vigilant.

This is a good point. A lot of bad guys are watching hotels.

Not to take away from your discussion, but I very recently had a friend get beat up and robbed at his hotel. He is a prior convicted felon so he can't own guns.

He was up at the casino near LaCenter, won like $3k, was drunk and by himself. Cashed out and stumbled over to his room feeling happy with himself. Was at the door of his room, as soon as he got it unlocked he was attacked by 4 people, one was a woman. They hit him and shoved him into the room.

Once they were in they beat him pretty good. Concussion and broken ribs. Knocked him out. They took all his cash, phone, laptop, wallet, etc and left him unconscious. He woke up an hour later to two women standing at his door and asking if he's OK.

I'm sure they watched him cash out at the casino, and followed him. He was slobbering drunk and alone, so perfect target. No situational awareness.

None have been caught yet, and the tribal police don't seem to be too worried about it.

Always be on the lookout everyone!

 

[solv3nt]

I'm sorry it happened, but hopefully we can all learn the importance of situational awareness.

 

[Nick Burkhardt]

At least your not dead Grandfather Dies After Getting Punched in Jack in the Box Parking Lot

 

[unknowncoast]

That sucks! I am glad you are O

Dude! That sucks so bad! How did they come at you? Frontal, flank, the rear?

I carry a blade more than a gun. Living these 35+ years in NePo I've drawn my knife hundreds of times, for opening, prying, cutting the tape, etc. Twice I've pulled it on people, that was enough to diffuse the threat. Point is, I can have that knife out quicker than I ever could my gun, at this time anyway. So I'm wondering if these mugs were on your radar before the punch? When I see hinky, spidey senses activate, I'll unsnap the sheath, sometimes go as far as get the knife in hand, in my pocket/by my side. I walk everywhere with purpose, scanning my surroundings. If people are paying attention to ME they see someone that's aware of things around them.

I'm amazed that the news is flooded with people being beaten and robed of their phones and money. There's people I see every damn day that are oblivious to their surroundings. People don't seem to even have peripheral vision any more!

I live in Central Oregon and when I am walking around Portland my hand is in my front pocket on my gun. When I get the uncomfortable feeling or even just walking where there is no one else around the gun is half drawn in my pocket. It is all a matter of comfort... when you spend a lot of time in a place you develope a comfort level and slowly let your guard down. I don't know how you can live in a place where you are onguard, condition one, every second you are in public? Unfortunately I would expect you are going to experience being on guard every second you are in public for the next several months... atleast... which really sucks.

Can you recommend a good knife to carry? What is the blade length limit here in Portland? I live within the city limits.

 

[bogeycentral]

That sucks! I am glad you are OK!

I live in Central Oregon and when I am walking around Portland my hand is in my front pocket on my gun. When I get the uncomfortable feeling or even just walking where there is no one else around the gun is half drawn in my pocket. It is all a matter of comfort... when you spend a lot of time in a place you develope a comfort level and slowly let your guard down. I don't know how you can live in a place where you are onguard, condition one, every second you are in public? Unfortunately I would expect you are going to experience being on guard every second you are in public for the next several months... atleast... which really sucks.

I know the feeling having just moved to Portland area from Bend.

 

[unknowncoast]

I know the feeling having just moved to Portland area from Bend.

I love the Bend area. Central Oregon is a million times better than this hellhole. I drive for Uber/lyft and was talking to a Republican passenger which is a rarity. The guy lived here in Portland with his family. We talked about guns/politics etc. He told me he can't wait until his son graduates so he can finally leave Portland and make the move to Bend.

 

[Andy54Hawken]

Can you recommend a good knife to carry?

***Disclaimer***
I am not "knife fighter" , the Army did teach me some ways to kill someone with a knife , but not really how to "fight" with a knife...

My point here is that it can be difficult to effectively wield a knife , if you choose to carry a knife for self defense.. It behooves you to research a trainer* and learn how to use one.
*As in a "real" trainer , not some poser who will teach you some BS that will get you hurt or killed...

Situational awareness and avoiding trouble , is often the best self defense.
Andy

 

[Belial]

Obviously having a gun would not have made a difference, but what would have in your incident?

 

[unknowncoast]

Obviously having a gun would not have made a difference, but what would have in your incident?

Drawing a gun would have probably scared the attackers away.