I spent a total of 11 unforgettable days in Colombia, and just three hours before my flight, disaster struck. Right outside the Hotel & Suites Botoga DC where I was staying, my phone was snatched right out of my hand! [Facepalm]
On March 25th, as I was waiting for an Uber (side note: it’s technically not legal in Colombia but still widely used), I was double-checking the license plate on my phone when—out of nowhere—a thief on a motorcycle sped up and yanked my iPhone 16 straight from my grip. Acting purely on instinct, I gave chase for about 20 meters, but they quickly pulled out a weapon to intimidate me, stopping me in my tracks.
This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment crime; these two were clearly prepared. The driver wore a helmet, while the one who grabbed my phone had his face covered, blending into the crowd like a local. We had been standing on the curb outside a shop, and they deliberately approached us at high speed. Panicked, we rushed back to the hotel to call the police, but it was around noon, and they informed us it could take several hours for them to arrive.
With our flight scheduled for 1 p.m., there simply wasn’t enough time. The hotel manager kindly helped us leave our contact information and passport details, assuring us he’d assist in filing a report with the authorities. He mentioned that incidents like this are disturbingly common in Bogota, and the likelihood of recovering stolen items is slim, but they would do their best to file a case.
Unfortunately, the police never showed up, and the embassy later advised me to file the report online instead. Two days after submitting all the necessary details, I received confirmation from the prosecutor’s office acknowledging the report. However, ten days have passed, and there’s still no word on whether the case has even been officially opened 
This experience was absolutely harrowing. If you’re planning to travel abroad, especially to places like South America, please exercise extreme caution. Your safety should always come first!
