Reddit automod gone wild! Apparently, talking about a theft while homeless is a real-estate post.
Reddit automod gone wild! Apparently, talking about a theft while homeless is a real-estate post.
My post was removed, so I'll preserve it here for posterity. Come for the theft, stay for the stupid.
A mea culpa about the homeless problem
I've been unhoused for more than two years at this point. My van has been safe short of a couple of break-in attempts I was able to fend off.
Until 3:30 this morning.
I know a few homeless around me, and we generally work in a mutual-aid environment. As an example, there's a worker at a nearby convenience store who will randomly leave "best-by date was yesterday" food outside my door.
But this is where my patience ends. I'm woken up by a knock (you always have to answer a knock, because who knows what the situation is), and a guy I've helped a few times -- charging his phone, giving him water, that sort of thing -- asks to use my phone.
So, it's the wee hours, I'm disoriented, and I figure "what's the worst that could happen if his phone isn't working and he needs to call for a ride?"
I should mention that in one of his past visits, his backpack tipped over, and there was a handgun on the floor of my cab. I didn't feel threatened at the time, but it was certainly a data point to consider for future interaction.
I've actually been housing all his vital documents such as birth certificate, so I knew he'd be back at some point, but it had been well over a month since seeing him, so that kinda went to back of mind.
I'm sure you can see where all of this is leading: He takes my phone, places a call, and while I'm holding out my hand for him to give it back, he hops on his bike and pedals away. Of course retaining my phone.
So this theft is now my problem. I have a dental appointment tomorrow that I needed to order a Lyft for, which is rather inconvenient. But, being unhoused, it's not as simple as ordering a new phone off Amazon, especially as they demand 2FA to get back into my account, which requires a phone (the email option, for whatever reason, failed).
So, he hasn't just stolen a $500 item (I went cheap this time), but has complicated literally every portion of my life. And I don't think he has the capacity to feel guilt or shame. No good deed goes unpunished, I suppose. I offered to let him charge his phone in my van after meeting him at the Allandale bus stop outside HEB.
In my experience, the majority of the homeless nearby are decent humans, but I now get why one excruciating experience can change mindsets.
Thankfully, I have financial assistance from family out of state and a friend from the burner scene who was happy to have my phone shipped there. So long as I can get a couple of apps and figure out how to get back into my accounts, the appointment tomorrow shouldn't be an issue.
But dude, you just fucked up my life for a phone I was easily able to brick remotely. You gained nothing and left me holding the bag with a bill for a new phone.
Fucking asshole.
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