GRRR @ thieving carrier on Holloway Rd/House of Harlot
A couple of days ago, I met up with a friend of mine from the US at Showgirls where we spent quite a bit of time sniffing latex and getting fitted and covered in baby powder. Eventually we walked down the street to the lovely French bakery around the corner from House of Harlot before returning to check out the bits n bobs in that shop. I ended up ordering a nice little hat from Lacing Lillith while my friend tried on some more latex.
After a bit of time, I had to use my phone but as the reception in the shop itself is quite horrid, I stepped just outside the door to use my phone. If anyone has been by the shop recently, they might have noticed the sewing machine table sitting there near the door in the private corridor.
As I was waiting for an internet page to load, I ran to counter in the shop to grab a flyer to get the actual address and I placed my phone on the sewing table. Just after I went thru the door, the FedEx man passed by me to leave. I immediately popped back out only to find my phone gone. I quickly scanned the ground and the table once more and then saw the quickened pace of the carrier as he approached the gate. I shouted at him a couple of times and he did not respond. Someone in the shop asked me what was happening and I responded "that man stole my phone" while running down the corridor. I shouted at him again but he continued through the gate and headed left.
I ran after him and was halted for a second or two as I searched for the buzzer to open the gate (i was in a slight panic) but luckily someone at the shop door was quick enough to do it for me and I took off sprinting down the street. I don't think I've run like that since, well, a long time!
I didn't see him at first but I ended up catching up with the FedEx carrier just about to turn the corner at the bike shop (he was walking quickly) where I shouted at him to give me back my phone that he nicked from the store. There were people around so initially he professed ignorance, but after I replied that I left my phone on the sewing table and I knew he took it as I was right behind him he simply stated, "oh, it fell onto the ground" while handing it back to me.
I grabbed my phone back from him, called him an ass, and told him he'd be reported to FedEx. As I walked back to House of Harlot, I noticed my phone was still on and uploading webpages so there's no way it would have taken a tumble to the ground. I took the time to tweet/foursquare "fukin fed ex man just tried to steal my fone! (@ house of harlot). 17:37 May 5."
I got back into the shop and my friend asked me what happened. One of the girls that works in the shop (i'm bad with names) said that she couldn't believe that the FedEx carrier that has worked with them for such a long time would do such a thing. She said that they might have to file a complaint but that they always thought that such a great worker should win an award or something like that. I was still pretty upset and full of colourful language but then I realized I had to head out of London for a shoot.
After heading back to Atsuko Kudo's shop to pick up my backpack and drop off a gift, Simon & the girls there said the same thing about the man after I described him and the incident. They also mentioned knowing the man for a long time and his exemplary work as well as disappointment in the news.
Regardless of his service record, the man still took my phone off private property. Yes, it was stupid of me to leave it alone for those quick 10 seconds but I did. Everyone in the shop was either an employee or I knew them personally - except for one customer being helped & the FedEx carrier.
I'm a bit upset that after sending a number of people to the shop that I got such a passive response. (Robin was there but taking measurements at the time).
I waited a couple of days to calm down but this morning I called up FedEx to file a report against the man. They said they'd get back to me in 24hours. I wanted to write an email so they'd have it in writing but they said it wasn't possible. We'll see if they actually get back to me today/tomorrow.
After a bit of time, I had to use my phone but as the reception in the shop itself is quite horrid, I stepped just outside the door to use my phone. If anyone has been by the shop recently, they might have noticed the sewing machine table sitting there near the door in the private corridor.
As I was waiting for an internet page to load, I ran to counter in the shop to grab a flyer to get the actual address and I placed my phone on the sewing table. Just after I went thru the door, the FedEx man passed by me to leave. I immediately popped back out only to find my phone gone. I quickly scanned the ground and the table once more and then saw the quickened pace of the carrier as he approached the gate. I shouted at him a couple of times and he did not respond. Someone in the shop asked me what was happening and I responded "that man stole my phone" while running down the corridor. I shouted at him again but he continued through the gate and headed left.
I ran after him and was halted for a second or two as I searched for the buzzer to open the gate (i was in a slight panic) but luckily someone at the shop door was quick enough to do it for me and I took off sprinting down the street. I don't think I've run like that since, well, a long time!
I didn't see him at first but I ended up catching up with the FedEx carrier just about to turn the corner at the bike shop (he was walking quickly) where I shouted at him to give me back my phone that he nicked from the store. There were people around so initially he professed ignorance, but after I replied that I left my phone on the sewing table and I knew he took it as I was right behind him he simply stated, "oh, it fell onto the ground" while handing it back to me.
I grabbed my phone back from him, called him an ass, and told him he'd be reported to FedEx. As I walked back to House of Harlot, I noticed my phone was still on and uploading webpages so there's no way it would have taken a tumble to the ground. I took the time to tweet/foursquare "fukin fed ex man just tried to steal my fone! (@ house of harlot). 17:37 May 5."
I got back into the shop and my friend asked me what happened. One of the girls that works in the shop (i'm bad with names) said that she couldn't believe that the FedEx carrier that has worked with them for such a long time would do such a thing. She said that they might have to file a complaint but that they always thought that such a great worker should win an award or something like that. I was still pretty upset and full of colourful language but then I realized I had to head out of London for a shoot.
After heading back to Atsuko Kudo's shop to pick up my backpack and drop off a gift, Simon & the girls there said the same thing about the man after I described him and the incident. They also mentioned knowing the man for a long time and his exemplary work as well as disappointment in the news.
Regardless of his service record, the man still took my phone off private property. Yes, it was stupid of me to leave it alone for those quick 10 seconds but I did. Everyone in the shop was either an employee or I knew them personally - except for one customer being helped & the FedEx carrier.
I'm a bit upset that after sending a number of people to the shop that I got such a passive response. (Robin was there but taking measurements at the time).
I waited a couple of days to calm down but this morning I called up FedEx to file a report against the man. They said they'd get back to me in 24hours. I wanted to write an email so they'd have it in writing but they said it wasn't possible. We'll see if they actually get back to me today/tomorrow.