MY SON WAS JUMPED! Need advice, etc. on stolen phone.

[Mickeys.friend]

I am just SICK...I am not even sure if "jumped" is what you still call what happened??!!Yesterday around 4Pm while he was walking home from school (after a KEY club meeting) my son was jumped, physically asaulted and had his phone stolen. I am still fuming and extremly upset this morning. My son is only 14, and he is shaken...He was shoved around until he gave up the phone. I always told him to just give up whatever it is to thugs because it's not worth getting hurt over...or worse!!! He only just started High School this year, and he was very excited to do so...I am just shocked that this literally happened around the corner from our house! I just never thought anything like that could happen in my neighborhood! I know that sounds stupid, but it's how I feel. I just kills me because, we by no means have "money"...we are paycheck by paycheck for now, and I finally caved and added my son to our cell phone plan only 2 months ago....He joined a few school groups, etc., and we felt that he needed a way to keep in touch. Now the phone is gone....Although I only paid about $15 for the phone (along with 2YR contract) it's worth about $200! I filed a police report and my son was able to pick out one of the kids in the group (of 6or 7 kids!) ...I am hoping they catch the kid that did it...He was wearing a "football" shirt from the same high school as my son...I am thinking he's a year ahead of my son.
I called and suspended the SIM card, so the thief cannot use our calling plan...but what exactly does that mean? If I can somehow get another phone(like from a family member, friend, etc)this week will ATT send me a new SIM with a new number for my son and continue the phone plan as usual, or will I have to pay for a whole new plan for him? I know they don't replace the phone, and as frustrating as that is, I understand why.... Anyone here ever have this happen...I would love any advice on how to help my son (and me!) feel better and what to do about the phone....Thanks so much for listening, we are finally coming out of a reallly bad financial situation, and our van just died on Tuesday...now this! I need this little black cloud over my family just move on now, LOL!!!
LIZ

 

[GalDisney]

This same thing happened to my best friend's13 year old son around haloween. Some thug kid mugged him for his phone. He was ok, just shaken up, and luckily some moms in the neighbiorhood saw it happen and forced the thug to give back the phone.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I do not have ATT so I have no advice for the phone situation, just wanted to give you hugs. How scary for your son, I hope this doesn't affect him for the rest of his High School years.

 

[gomomgo]

 

[tinkarooni]

I have no advice on the phone but wanted to say that I know how you feel. My 11 year old recently was pushed around at school and that was so hard for me, I can't even imagine this. So sorry for you all. It's painful to imagine someone out there hurting our kids. Again so sorry for you all.

 

[debbiecarr98]

I am so sorry for you and your family!

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

My DH works for Motorola. Sim cards can be replaced. You should get the same phone number when they send you a new Sim. You may be able to request a new Sim and then get a used phone off Craigslist, a friend, etc. Just make sure it accepts the same type of card.

I am so sorry this happened to him. I hope you also contacted the school and advised them of the situation and that they take appropriate action.

 

[CLEVERGIRL]

I am so sorry that happened to your baby. But I am grateful he was not hurt. I know as a mother it must be frightening. Just sending hugs and prayers to you and your son.

 

[EcbLovesMickey]

I just had a thought, check you phone plan, some come with insurance and that may allow you to get a replacment for free or little cost. You will probably have ot get a copy of the police report and take it into a store and file a claim

 

[bigdisneygroup]

unfortunately, don't know about the phone but wanted to send you and your son What a terrible thing to happen. My brother had this happen to him about 25 years ago (course they didn't take the phone cause back in the olden days, there were no such things. ) and I still remember the feeling of outrage and betrayal to this day. I had felt so safe in our neighborhood, thinking that nothing bad could happen there so I know where you're coming from. Hope you can get the phone thing straightened out soon and cheaply.

 

[RSADP]

Oh my goodness! That is ridicilous! Poor kiddo!KIDs are so cruel these days. I'm not ready nor do I think I will EVER be ready for bullying. My DD is only 3 right now and go to "daycare" with my sister in law. And only family is there. My nephew bit my baby girl on her back and broke the skin...I wasn't really upset with my nephew, I was upset my baby had a big bite mark on the back of her neck. (((Hugs)))

Anyways, I had my phone stolen from my car, and they replaced it through insurance. Do you have insurance? If not, I would see if you can budget for the extra $5-10/ month. If you don't have insurance my next option would be to go through Craigslist, etc. OR you can buy a ATT Go-Phone and just get a new SIM card from ATT store.

 

[chum1600]

I do not have ATT, but when my pone was taken at prom a few years ago I called sprint and they turned the phone off so the person couldn't use it. We had insurance on the phone, but it still cost 50 bucks to get a new one. I would imagine if you found an old phone from a family member that ATT would send you out a new sims card for the phone, but they will most likely charge you for it. You should just be able to get the sims card and keep your plan all the same.

I hope this didn't happen at school, and if it did I hope they take those kids out of school for several days. I run security for a high school and if that happened here I can tell you that if he knew who did it they would be gone for at least 10 days. I know that doesn't make you feel better, but at least he wouldn't have to deal with them for a few days.

 

[dawson5]

can you look at the phone log, for his number, after the incident happened? You might be able to print it out and give it to the police. it might help in determining who else was involved, especially if they used to to call people.

I would also suggest to have your son walk home with friends for a while. I would worry that he would be a target for retaliation because of the police involvement.

I am so sorry this happened to your son. It's a crazy world anymore.

 

[branv]

Oh, I'm so sorry! But glad your son is okay. Same thing happened to my nephew a few years ago -- he and his friend were outside, two guys walked up. One said, "hey, what's up?" and when they turned the guys punched them in the face. Took their cells and wallets, but given the stories I hear I'm so grateful it wasn't worse (not that I didn't simultaneously want to cry and fantasize about vigilante justice, but I suppose that's a normal reaction )

This may not help you, but I'll put it out there since it might and could help anyone reading this. Just this very morning I watched a local news story about some cars that were broken into and purses/cell phones taken. When the lady called to have her phone turned off, they let her know that she could sign up for their tracking service (not sure that's the name, but ykwim). So even though the phone was "lost" they were able to activate it with this service, and she was able to see the location of her phone using her computer. She called the police and gave them the locations as the thieves went around the city (not surprisingly, the punks were on the move, visiting parks to break into other cars). Her phone was stolen at 7 am, it was recovered by 3 pm. Of course the best part was that these idiots were caught Hope that helps someone out there!

 

[Blue.Fairy2]

can you look at the phone log, for his number, after the incident happened? You might be able to print it out and give it to the police. it might help in determining who else was involved, especially if they used to to call people.

I would also suggest to have your son walk home with friends for a while. I would worry that he would be a target for retaliation because of the police involvement.

I am so sorry this happened to your son. It's a crazy world anymore.

to you and your son. Glad he was not hurt.

Good advice or pick him up from school if you can.

again no advice on the phone.

 

[surfergirl602]

can use use any type of phone that takes a sim card?

 

[dawson5]

This may not help you, but I'll put it out there since it might and could help anyone reading this. Just this very morning I watched a local news story about some cars that were broken into and purses/cell phones taken. When the lady called to have her phone turned off, they let her know that she could sign up for their tracking service (not sure that's the name, but ykwim). So even though the phone was "lost" they were able to activate it with this service, and she was able to see the location of her phone using her computer. She called the police and gave them the locations as the thieves went around the city (not surprisingly, the punks were on the move, visiting parks to break into other cars). Her phone was stolen at 7 am, it was recovered by 3 pm. Of course the best part was that these idiots were caught Hope that helps someone out there!

We have sprint and they have something like this, for $20/mo/per phone. I think google offers something for free. I keep meaning to look into, sent it to my hubby but then it totally slipped my mind. I need to look into it again.

and I found it:

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/159137/google_latitude_an_indepth_look.html

It won't help now but maybe when she replaces his phone. It only works on smart phones though.

 

[thebeesknees]

I'm so sorry this happened to your son! How scary for both him and you! I hope the police get those guys and put them through the wringer so they don't even think about attempting this again.

 

[BrettS]

I'm so sorry that this happened, but I can help you with the phone question. You can call them or just go into an AT&T store and they can get a new SIM for you. He will keep his existing phone number and plan... you won't need to get a new plan or anything. You'd probably have more luck at an AT&T owned store than an independent reseller... in the past when I needed to replace a SIM the independent store tried to charge me $15 or $20 for it, but it was free at the AT&T owned store.

Pretty much any AT&T phone will work as a replacement phone for your son. TMobile and a few other companies use phones that take SIM chips, but those phones are almost always locked to the carrier, so unless he gets a phone that was originally used with AT&T it may not work with his AT&T SIM.

Good luck,
Brett

 

[ceecee]

So Sorry, hope he is okay!
Call the school as well as the police!