Metro Robbery
A friend of mine, from a website that I mentioned here before, came to Saint Petersburg last Thursday. His destination is central Russia, but he came to visit us as we're all part of a 'network.'
Anyway, he came here, then he would go on to Moscow where he will (or has) caught a train to somewhere near Ufa.
For this trip, he has sold several things in America (as he's from Oklahoma City) and brought a few extra things here--among them, 2 laptops.
In the process of watching those laptops, he was robbed of his wallet. [Considering he was wearing jeans, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat (Stetson), I can understand why he might be a visible target.]
The thief or thieves made out quite well. They immediately hit a cash machine with the credit card--normal and intelligent move as it would be reported stolen soon after--but weren't fast enough to get the $450 they shot for. Of course, they still got the $2500 in cash that he was toting around in the wallet proper as well as a somewhat useful driver's license.
Do I have advise for others planning to sojourn through our kind metropolis? Sure...don't make yourself a target.
The irony of the situation: the same man had a few days earlier said that only people who present themselves as victims are actually victimized in Russia.
And the aftermath: both he and another friend that was escorting him through our fair city spend a majority of the day going from one authority to another and doing paperwork with the police. Of course, to report the wallet stolen he would have to spend one week doing paperwork via bureaucratic departments before anything would be done. Thus, they were forced to report the wallet "lost" as the paperwork could be done in one afternoon.
Then the visited my flat/apartment and talked for about 30 minutes before tripping back to the other friend's place and sleeping....then off to Moscow the next day as they had little taste for spending more time as tourists in Saint Petersburg.
As for the city of Saint Petersburg...well, it's a common occurrence, but it doesn't happen to everyone. It's not more dangerous than any other city in the world.
However, I'm sure it will look that way....as the victim in this case is also an author of books about Russia and on occasion a reporter.