condu

Kodi, perhaps you could let Fodor posters know what happened and what you learned from the experience.

SusanInToronto

We really didn't have any concerns in Buenos Aires - we felt comfortable going out in the evening, taking the subte and so on. I'm fairly careful now - I learned my lesson the hard way here in Toronto when I had my wallet stolen on the streetcar, not just once, but twice.

Yes, it's a big city, but I honestly didn't feel apprehensive. We went to La Boca one day, later in the afternoon, and on the ride over, the cabbie gave us a stern lecture about the area. But there were so many other tourists around that we weren't worried.

Eddwarm

avrooster, thank you for responding to my query. ...much appreciate the clarification!

kodi

Ok Condu.
I learned not to let anyone near you for what ever reason. ...not to clean off mustard, or bird poo or anything. I felt I was always being careful, but unfortunately had not heard of the 'bird poo' scam.
I was just starting down the steps of a building when something went 'splat' all over the back of me. I looked around, puzzled, and there was only one other person... a well dressed young man, with a daypack. He looked like a tourist, and one thing led to another and he ended up 'helping me try to rub the bird poo off my hair, shoulder and back.

While he was helping me, I suddenly realized that my purse that I always have cross my body, had shifted to the back.
It only took a split second to think..... " why am I worrying about my purse when this nice man is helping me,...... NO I must get my purse around to the front again"... amazing how much thought can go through the brain in that split second. As I reached for my purse to swing it around to the front, he was just CLOSING one of the zippers. My camera was already in his backpack. Presumabley he would have gone on to the next zipper, and the next. Because he was closing the zipper, I never would have known til I went to use my camera again.

I was so so lucky... he gave me my camera back. He could have grabbed his back pack and run... he could have shoved me and I could have fallen down 25 steps.... but for some reason he gave it back . Maybe he'd never been caught before.

SO be careful. Don't let anyone near you to help you clean anything.

I went into the nearest store, which happened to be Tiffanys'. I asked how much of the stuff was on my back.. The young lady said I was covered. They let me use their washroom. I had to take my clothes off and put them under the tap, and wear them wet. Good thing it was a hot day.

So, yes , hang onto your purse and be careful.

Having said all this, I still felt safe in the city. As safe as I would in any other city.

avrooster

Dear condu: we have warned about this at least DOZENS of times in this forum. However, as you point out, the good thing about this trick is that I have never heard of violence associated with it.

Please tell us what day of the week and time it was, the area, etc.

condu

Kodi: Thank you for sharing this information on the forum. I am so glad you got your camera back.

AVrooster: This trick was experienced by Kodi, not me. I asked her to share her experience as a warning to others.
It is wise to remember that a thief does NOT necessarily look like a bad guy! Looking like a helpful fellow tourist is a cunning disguise! LOL!

avrooster

I'm sorry Condu, I must be getting even older! LOL!!!

Kodi: Please tell us what day of the week and time it was, the area, etc., as it could help other tourists.

condu

No problem AVrooster...you have "corrected" many of my "errors."

kodi

The attempted scam took place in the middle of the afternoon, with really, no other people around.

I was just coming out of Facultad de Derecho, which is the building with so many steps , right next to the big metal flower on Avenida del Liberador.

No one was around... Just me and the well dressed man..
I don't know whether he shot the stuff at me, or whether there was a man on the roof. I turned around right away, to see what had hit me, and the man was standing there , looking around too.

I had not read of this scam, and I'm just so very lucky that I caught him.
Don't let anyone near you.

I don't want to focus on this incident, but it's good for others to know..
Be careful, but don't hesitate to go to Buenos Aires.

condu

Thank you Kodi for this info. Good thing you were aware enough to figure out something was amiss.

This area is a very popular tourist area with wonderful photos taking opportunities. Both times we were there, it was well populated.

avrooster

Thank you, Kodi.

Weekend or working day?

kodi

I think it was a Tuesday. No one else was on the steps. I had just started down them, maybe a third of the way down. I had no reason to notice the young fellow.. He just looked like a tourist. When I was splatted, he looked as puzzled as I did. He played his part really well.

avrooster

The way you tell us it happened, I figure he had no accomplices. He squirted you and then looked puzzled.

In other versions of this trick, there are more people involved. I figure one does the squirting, while one or two more eagerly "help" you, meaning help you get rid of your belongings.

I repeat that this trick normally doesn't involve violence. Yell if they get near you and they'll just go away.

kodi

ttt