Still loads of other things to write about, but first something terrible that happened at lunchtime, in which I was an unwitting accessory.
I was in a McDonalds near work eating my lunch (yes I know all about Super Size Me), and I was reading my paper in peace having sat down in an unoccupied booth, when a middle-aged woman came over. She didn’t say anything but gesticulated in the general direction of the seat next to me.
I couldn’t see anything, but was slightly uncomfortable that she was a little close to me for comfort. Being a wary soul, I kept a close eye on my belongings, but my wallet and phone were out of reach anyway.
I lifted my paper and still couldn’t see anything. But she continued to gesticulate. Afterwards, I would think it odd that as someone wearing a Canadian lapel badge, she didn’t say a word of either English or French. But at that moment, I leaned right over to see that under the table, there was indeed a small black bag. It was obviously a camera. I reached for it, and passed it over smiling to her. She must have forgotten it when she’d left.
I resumed reading my newspaper for another ten minutes or so until two Japanese lads came up to me. One of them spoke good English, and asked me if I’d seen their camera that they’d left under the seat.
I was mortified.
The woman who had claimed the camera was obviously a thief. I’d been eating for a few minutes before she’d come over, but I hadn’t seen where she’d come from. She’d quite easily been sitting in the restaurant watching events unfold. She’d noted that the two Japanese lads had left their camera. Then she’d watched me arrive at the same table and sit down. She’d waited a while more in case the Japanese guys had maybe realised their mistake sooner.
Then she’d made her move, and her franticness was probably linked to not wanting to be caught out in case the Japanese guys came back too soon. In the event, her timing was perfect. I was a willing sap, and she had a digital camera.
I told the Japanese guys what had happened. I felt awful. There’s CCTV in that McDonalds, so I accompanied the lads to the manager where I told him what had happened. He told them to go the police who would come back. The woman would surely be on camera, although what the police would be able to do is difficult to say.
But she probably does make a living sitting in McDonalds, nursing cups of coffee whilst watching the other patrons until they forget a bag or a purse. It’s easy to do.
I related this to someone at work who mentioned another trick adopted is when you’ve got your mobile on the table. A couple of “foreigners” come over, thrust a map in front of you, covering up your phone. They then get you to give them directions. When they take the map away and head off, your phone’s gone.
You just can’t be too careful.