backtrack - getting robbed at tooting

Ok so I think I forgot to write about it at the time (possibly I was so drained by the experience) but I got pick pocketed 2 weeks ago wilst on a Sunday afternoon walk.

It was a beautiful sunny day and I just had to get out and about. I also needed a new pair of jeans. THe "fat" jeans I bought in Brisbane were too loose and poor fitting (curse you, Jay Jay's). So I thought I would walk down to Tooting Broadway (3 tube stations South) and check out the offerings in Primark and New Look.

I began to walk. It was lovely to be out in the snowy sunshine. I walked briskly, bopping along to my ipod tunes. After passing Tooting Bec station however, the mood of my surroundings changed. You can really tell the difference between a good area and a bad area in this town. It happens so quickly and suddenly. But before you know it, you're walking amongst bric a brac shops with the majority of their produce strewn around in the snow outside in a completely ramshackle fashion, and covered markets so seedy that if you walked in, you would be likely to come out without a kidney if at all.

Still, it was a happy scene as everyone was bustling around doing their sunday shopping. I went into New Look first and found a great pair of jeans for 20 quid. I thought I'd just check out Primark before catching the tube home. Big Mistake. I browsed happily for a while. I left the store and walked towards the tube station. I fished in my pocket for my Oyster card holder and, to my nightmarish horror, found it was gone. It and my credit card.

I immedialtey went back to Primark and searched the floor for my card. I reported it to the security and customer services and checked in all the other stores I had been. Despondent and slightly panicked I realised I had no way to get home. I didn't want to walk - I needed to get home and cancel my cards ASAP.

I walked to the train station and stood near the ticket machine, steeling myself for the fact that I was going to have to ask strangers for money. I waited and waited.. I couldn't do it. So I decided to ask at the ticket desk. The man told me to go through and see the station master. THe station master was the loveliest man. He sat me down, gave me a tissue to wipe my eyes and called the police for me to report the crime. Once I was done, he told me to catch the train to clapham south and that he would call ahead and tell them I was coming. So nice.

I got a free tube ride home. The man at Clapham south was also very nice when he let me through, wishing me good luck in finding the criminal. I know they wont catch him - although the police did come around to get further details from me a week later (to look at CCTV footage from Primark). I won't get my cards back, but maybe they'll catch the scumbag who stole them.