Woman tracks stolen cellphone to city 8,000 miles away: ‘Doesn’t feel random to me’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV/Gray News) - A North Carolina woman whose cellphone was stolen at a Charlotte-area bar in March has tracked it all the way to a city 8,000 miles away in China.
Marin Blake is one of dozens of victims who claim their phones were pickpocketed at a cluster of bars in the South End over the last year.
Charlotte police’s crime map shows authorities have taken nearly 40 reports of theft from the area since December 2024.
One police report shows Blake’s phone was stolen from The Rose Honky Tonk on March 22.
Blake tracked her phone and watched it travel to Miami before it was eventually sent overseas to Shenzhen, China.
Shenzhen is a major global tech hub.
“That doesn’t feel random to me. That feels like it’s orchestrated. It’s a ring and really something needs to happen for it to be stopped because it’s becoming a huge issue,” Blake said.
Even though she got a new phone, Blake said the thieves are texting her threatening messages, in what she believes is an attempt to get her to deactivate her stolen phone.
“I’ve received multiple text messages ever since my phone went from Miami to China, saying they’re going to sell my information on the black market if I don’t click certain links, which of course I didn’t click,” Blake said.
Two other victims said they had their phones stolen recently at the Gin Mill in the South End.
Blake fears the pickpocketing problem could be a criminal operation.
“It’s very scary to have something taken from you,” Blake said. “It’s really made me more aware of my surroundings and just be safe because you never know. It’s scary.”
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