My brother Archie, arrived in Rio a few days before we did to visit friends, and had rented an apartment in a neighborhood a few blocks where we would share an apartment together. We last communicated with my brother on Thursday afternoon via Whats App and all was well, except the Internet in his apartment was spotty. Late the following day, we sent him some change of address information regarding our Saturday accommodation. He did not respond.
Initially, I thought he was just not paying attention to the messages or the internet wasn't working well. We sent him an email as well, just in case he didn't get the text message for some reason.
Yesterday morning before we left Bariloche, I sent Archie another text wishing him a happy birthday. The other messages had not been picked up and there was still no response from the change info I had sent him late Thursday. I was becoming a little concerned.
When we changed planes in Buenos Aires, I tried again. Still no response. I messaged our check-in contact in Rio to see if Archie had checked in. He had checked in, and I was somewhat relieved, but still a little uneasy that he had not contacted us himself to let us know.
We arrived at the apartment around 10:30 pm by taxi from the airport. As soon as I saw Archie, I knew something was wrong. Long story short, he had gone out for a walk Friday by himself, stopped to watch some beach volleyball from a little beach bar.
Bad News
He and another guy struck up a conversation in Portuguese. They ordered a beer, and the next thing Archie remembers after a couple of sips of the beer is waking up in his apartment sprawled fully dressed on his bed, with the contents of the safe (money, credit cards) gone! His cell phone, driver's license also gone!
Good News
Archie is alive with all his body parts! The thief left him his tablet, passport, and clothing with the exception of his ball cap. What's App only works on a phone, and that was gone.
But he did get the emails when the Internet worked. He checked into our new Airbnb while still in a groggy state of mind, not knowing how he got back in his apartment and how the safe had been opened. The Airbnb checkin assistant was kind enough to lend him $25.00 so he could get some food until we arrived.
Onward
Archie spent most of yesterday afternoon filling out a police report, cancelling debit and credit cards, and trying in vain to remember what happened. He has since learned about the "sleeping cinderella" drug he wa slipped, used not only for date rape, but apparently to relieve single travelers "willingly" of their possessions.
We reason that without any bruises or suspicions being aroused of a big unconscious guy being drug through the streets of a good neighborhood to his apartment, Archie must have "sleep walked" with the thief to his apartment, opened the safe, himself,and passed out on the bed. Crazy. We are just grateful, he is alive and the thief left him his passport and tablet (some compassion-anyway), and that we arrived with cash to share.
So it was a terrible birthday for Archie, but he is physically in one piece, and we are together now in Rio.
Worrall Travel Rs in Rio
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