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Swiper, no swiping.

A North Carolina woman experienced what is many people’s worst fear — getting her phone stolen.

Marin Blake was enjoying a night out with friends at The Rose Honky Tonk bar in Charlotte, North Carolina’s South End when someone swiped her phone away from her — something that can happen to anyone, especially in a crowded place.

Marin Blake was trying to have a fun night out with friends before one of her worst nightmares came true. Facebook/Marin Blake

“It’s very scary to have something taken from you,” Blake told WBTV. “It’s really made me more aware of my surroundings and just be safe because you never know, it’s scary.”

According to the news TV station, the strip of bars where Blake was with her friends has gotten a reputation for being a place where thieves whisk away people’s coveted devices.

And this barfly seems to be the latest victim.

Reportedly, other victims said their phones got stolen at this strip of bars in Charlotte’s South End. WBTV

When Blake finally realized her phone was missing, she tracked it down using the ‘Find My’ feature Apple offers — and shockingly, discovered that her phone had gone international, according to the news station.

By the time Blake was able to track down where her phone was — it had already made its way from Charlotte to Miami to Shenzhen, China. WBTV

Blake’s phone went on a journey, first arriving in Miami before finally landing in the tech hub of Shenzhen, China.

Although she eventually got a new phone — the scariest part of this story is that the phone thieves have been threatening Blake, using her phone.

“I’ve received multiple text messages ever since my phone went from Miami to China, saying they’re going to sell my information on the black market if I don’t click certain links, which of course I didn’t click,” she told WBTV.

Reportedly, local police are investigating to find out if these phone thieves have a specific motive.

Although this incident happened in North Carolina, nowhere and no one is safe from having their phone stolen from them — especially in NYC.

In early 2024, a bike-riding bully was going around Manhattan swiping people’s phones right out of their hands or pockets.

One menace in particular stole a 17-year-old’s phone outside Union Square Park, and then later on that day, he reportedly stole a 53-year-old woman’s phone before pedaling away on First Avenue and 90th Street on the Upper East Side.

Reportedly, the thief continued the phone-snatching crime targeting even more victims throughout the Big Apple.

At the time, cops were still looking for him.

Read the full article here

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