Theft claim without police report (Rome)

[Steerpike58]

I posted this in the Europe sub, but then saw this dedicated insurance sub so am posting a revised version here.  If mods wish to delete the other one thats fine.

 

Can't believe this happened to me but it did (two days ago ... just joined ship today). Very clever trio in metro; a guy sprang from behind and started retching at my feet (as in, pretending to vomit), I lept back to avoid him, and he ran off, and that was it.  5 mins later i noticed my phone was gone (it was in a top front pocket so not entirely secure but had been using it to check station names, walking directions, etc). I then realized a young respectable-looking couple to my right also ran, and pieced it together that they were scoping me out and got the phone when the guy startled me.  I'm pretty  alert and savvy so this blew me away. We were holding back at the bottom of the escalator to let the crowd thin out when it happened.  The young couple also seemed to be holding back, which just seemed the smart thing to do. 

 

Anyway, $1,200 brand new phone is gone.  The ship sailed the next morning at 11 and top priority that evening was to remote lock or wipe the device.  I did visit the police station near hotel in the morning but they couldn't file a report because ...boss wasn't there to sign (basically 3 guys sitting around doing nothing...). They sent me to another station but by then time ran out.  

 

So .... I'm sure this happens a lot in rome ... have you had any luck making a claim on insurance without a police report? Their requirement is for 'proof of loss' I believe. The timing of being in port for so little time makes filing reports so hard.

 

[iamtrustworthy]

5 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

I posted this in the Europe sub, but then saw this dedicated insurance sub so am posting a revised version here.  If mods wish to delete the other one thats fine.

 

Can't believe this happened to me but it did (two days ago ... just joined ship today). Very clever trio in metro; a guy sprang from behind and started retching at my feet (as in, pretending to vomit), I lept back to avoid him, and he ran off, and that was it.  5 mins later i noticed my phone was gone (it was in a top front pocket so not entirely secure but had been using it to check station names, walking directions, etc). I then realized a young respectable-looking couple to my right also ran, and pieced it together that they were scoping me out and got the phone when the guy startled me.  I'm pretty  alert and savvy so this blew me away. We were holding back at the bottom of the escalator to let the crowd thin out when it happened.  The young couple also seemed to be holding back, which just seemed the smart thing to do. 

 

Anyway, $1,200 brand new phone is gone.  The ship sailed the next morning at 11 and top priority that evening was to remote lock or wipe the device.  I did visit the police station near hotel in the morning but they couldn't file a report because ...boss wasn't there to sign (basically 3 guys sitting around doing nothing...). They sent me to another station but by then time ran out.  

 

So .... I'm sure this happens a lot in rome ... have you had any luck making a claim on insurance without a police report? Their requirement is for 'proof of loss' I believe. The timing of being in port for so little time makes filing reports so hard.

 

Hi Steerpike58,

 

Yesterday, a customer travelling in Rome emailed about their stolen phone. And over the last few weeks I've heard more stories about how clever the thieves are getting and that they are doing thefts in teams.

 

His policy's wording stated this in different sections:

"original receipts (if available) and a complete list of stolen, damaged or lost item(s) must be provided along with proof of loss providing amount of loss, date, time and cause of loss, and a repair estimate, if the item(s) is damaged."

 

"Claim Forms: When notice of claim is received by Us or Our authorized representative, forms for filing proof of loss will be furnished. If these forms are not sent within 15 days, the proof of loss requirements can be met by You sending Us a written statement of what happened. This statement must be received within the time given for filing Proof of Loss."

 

"Proof of Loss: Proof of loss must be provided within 90 days after the date of the loss or as soon as is reasonably possible. Failure to furnish such proof within provided period will not invalidate nor reduce any claim if it shall be shown not to have been reasonably possible to furnish such proof during that time. Proof of Loss must, however, be furnished no later than 12 months from the time it is otherwise required, except in the absence of legal capacity."

 

"All claims require You to provide Us with the following: a Trip invoice, itinerary or confirmation showing details of Your Trip (dates of travel, destination, etc.); and any other information reasonably required to prove the loss."

 

It's best if you contact whoever sold you the policy for help and also to read your policy's wording.

 

Steve Dasseos

[CDNPolar]

10 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

I posted this in the Europe sub, but then saw this dedicated insurance sub so am posting a revised version here.  If mods wish to delete the other one thats fine.

 

Can't believe this happened to me but it did (two days ago ... just joined ship today). Very clever trio in metro; a guy sprang from behind and started retching at my feet (as in, pretending to vomit), I lept back to avoid him, and he ran off, and that was it.  5 mins later i noticed my phone was gone (it was in a top front pocket so not entirely secure but had been using it to check station names, walking directions, etc). I then realized a young respectable-looking couple to my right also ran, and pieced it together that they were scoping me out and got the phone when the guy startled me.  I'm pretty  alert and savvy so this blew me away. We were holding back at the bottom of the escalator to let the crowd thin out when it happened.  The young couple also seemed to be holding back, which just seemed the smart thing to do. 

 

Anyway, $1,200 brand new phone is gone.  The ship sailed the next morning at 11 and top priority that evening was to remote lock or wipe the device.  I did visit the police station near hotel in the morning but they couldn't file a report because ...boss wasn't there to sign (basically 3 guys sitting around doing nothing...). They sent me to another station but by then time ran out.  

 

So .... I'm sure this happens a lot in rome ... have you had any luck making a claim on insurance without a police report? Their requirement is for 'proof of loss' I believe. The timing of being in port for so little time makes filing reports so hard.

 

 

Interesting and thank you for sharing this.  Sorry about your phone, but this just highlights how the pickpockets work in teams.

 

I have and we have been targeted in a number of ways in Europe and fortunate not to have lost our phones or wallets.   From a person that walks into a coffee shop with a clipboard and approaches the table and then will hold the clipboard over the phone while showing you tour options or something... poof the phone is gone as they reach under the clipboard.  Groups that approach together on the street doing surveys.  Single individual standing at the bottom of a long escalator in a London Tube station that manages to get your eye, and then as they engage you at the bottom with a question, one or two of their accomplices move in.

 

We have a "Device Protection Plan" that is part of our monthly cell phone provider package which includes ONE stolen device replacement and the only caveat is that you must have the "Find My iPhone" enabled at the time the device is stolen.  This covers all sorts of damage also, but one of the main reasons we have it is because if there is an Apple store close by, we can get an immediate replacement.

[Steerpike58]

I have to say that at the moment, Google's "find my phone" feature is pretty useless.  Even though I was using Google maps all day on the phone that was stolen, the find feature reported the device as being in the US. Next day it showed it as being in Rome but at the Vatican (we were there in the morning but theft occured later). Finally, maybe 24 hrs or more later, it showed Rome termini station, which was the location 30 mins before theft (maybe no internet signal in subway so that may be understandable).

 

The problem with smartphones is, Google maps is so damn good at getting you around, and most museums are encouraging you to use e-tickets (skip the line, etc). And of course the phone cameras are so good now, you end up using the phone all the time. So it's quite difficult to secure your phone like you do with your wallet and passport.  

[CDNPolar]

13 hours ago, Steerpike58 said:

I have to say that at the moment, Google's "find my phone" feature is pretty useless.  Even though I was using Google maps all day on the phone that was stolen, the find feature reported the device as being in the US. Next day it showed it as being in Rome but at the Vatican (we were there in the morning but theft occured later). Finally, maybe 24 hrs or more later, it showed Rome termini station, which was the location 30 mins before theft (maybe no internet signal in subway so that may be understandable).

 

The problem with smartphones is, Google maps is so damn good at getting you around, and most museums are encouraging you to use e-tickets (skip the line, etc). And of course the phone cameras are so good now, you end up using the phone all the time. So it's quite difficult to secure your phone like you do with your wallet and passport.  

 

Agreed on securing your phone today...

 

And there are many reports of bikes riding past or people running and grabbing your phone.

 

It is not the be all and end all, but we have found cases that have a very strong wrist strap and when we have our phones in our hands the wrist strap is on.  

 

This might prevent a theft while using the phone.

 

The other caution that we exercise is that generally only one of us takes pictures so when one phone is out the other is away.  The one without the phone is "watching" for grabbers.