The Rio de Janeiro carnival finally burst into life yesterday. I was glued to the samba parade all night, mesmerized by the vibrant performances. The next morning, I headed straight to the largest street party, where the energy was electric and the crowd seemed endless. To stay safe, I wore pants with a zipped pocket and stashed my phone inside, thinking it would be secure.
I pulled it out a couple of times to respond to messages, but soon after, when I reached for it again—it was nowhere to be found.
I didn’t feel a hand in my pocket, but there was this guy who kept shoving me from behind. Looking back, I’m pretty sure he’s the one who made off with my phone.
Let me sound a warning bell for everyone: at packed events like these, the risk of pickpocketing is far greater than outright theft. So, please take extra care of your valuables. A simple zipper isn’t enough—consider using a security strap or even a hidden pouch. Also, if someone brushes against you for no reason, they might be testing how alert you are. In my case, I reacted too late. [Face with tears of joy]
