Don't lose your mobile

Are you a victim of pickpockets or holdup inside a public transport? Or do you know anybody who is? I am a victim myself, lost my Motorola L6 during a holdup in a jeepney early last year. My wife, also a commuter, oftentimes witness actual pickpockets at work inside a vehicle. And she has almost always tried to warn the hapless victim, putting herself at risk in the process.

Here's my take on mobile safety, all from experience.
1. When inside the jeepney, try to observe how people are seated. Oftentimes, pickpockets would try to crowd their victims; one accomplice would pose as the immovable passenger, pressing the actual pickpocket and the victim closely (let’s call that person as the presser). If you notice this arrangement with one end of the long seat virtually empty (jeepneys tend to seat 7 up to 12 persons on one side), and three to four persons pressed uncomfortably on the other end, chances are someone’s gonna lose something.
2. In the above configuration, the presser looks away from the scene while the pickpocket intently looks at his victim’s face, making sure the victim is unaware of his “operation”. One signal from the victim that he is sensing what’s going on and the pickpocket aborts the operation.
3. Try to figure out passengers who are communicating with their eyes, these are not pickpockets; these are people who will declare a holdup real soon. Oftentimes the seating arrangement would have someone behind the driver or at the front seat. Another is near the exit end. And another somewhere in the middle. If you happen to catch a glimpse on these, “para” or “sa tabi lang po” should be said in the next second.
4. Back to the pickpocket, they happen to have an empty bag or knapsack on their lap. This is used for cover. Always try to find the hands of the person seated next to you. If one hand is missing not because it was amputated, it is surely behind the empty bag trying to pry loose you mobile.
5. Do not keep you mobile in a belt holster. You’re an easy target if you do so. My officemate’s N70 was taken from his holster.
6. Always be aware of your surrounding, I’m not talking about a ten meter radius, the immediate half meter will do. Or better yet don’t let your mind wander off or try to get a glimpse of the girl seated across you, be conscious of people with you on a jeepney, especially the one next to you.
7. Before leaving the office for that jeepney ride home, try to put your mobile in silent mode. Try not to be tempted to use it while already seated inside the ride. Some people would use it as a music player, play games, or simply use it for its real purpose, but whatever reason you want to use it, its better to hold it off 'till you’re in the safety of your home. You say “don’t text while you drive”, but because I don’t have a car to drive then it’s “don’t text while you commute”.