I thought I was in Europe getting my phone snatched

When I shared what happened, people were stunned—“OMG, I thought this only happens in Europe!” one said. “First time I’ve heard of phone snatching in Auckland… I’m so sorry.” That’s why I’m sharing my story—not just to raise awareness, but also to hopefully recover a bit of what I lost, starting with my phone.

It started on Hobson Street, just a regular night. I pulled out my iPhone to order an Uber. Two minutes away. Easy. Then, out of nowhere, someone on a Lime scooter zoomed past and snatched my phone right out of my hand.

I ran after them. I wish I could say I caught up. Instead, I tripped, face-planted into the pavement, and got a free nose job from the concrete. No phone. No Uber. No jacket. Just blood on my face and a long walk ahead.

With no way to call anyone, I had to walk home. In a T-shirt. In the cold. For 2.5 hours. I jogged when I was freezing, slowed when exhausted, and got home at 3am looking like I’d escaped a zombie apocalypse.

Now I’m dealing with the aftermath—replacing my phone, patching up my face, and trying to laugh through the bruises. If you’ve ever had a night where everything went wrong and you just needed a little help to bounce back, you’ll understand.

Any support means the world—whether it’s helping me replace my phone or just sending good vibes. Even a warm jacket recommendation. Thanks for reading—and watch out for rogue scooters.