The “Makito,” and phone theft protection strategy in the Dominican Republic

As some of you may recall I was robbed of my cellphone in broad daylight waiting to board a bus in Santo Domingo a couple of weeks ago. It created more than a few problems for me.

I had so much data and documents on there that are simply gone. By good fortune, I had brought an old phone as backup that day. Lucky I did that. As a result I developed a new system.

In the DR, theft is so rampant that people often don’t carry their good phone in public. Sad but true. Before the theft I had only carried my phone a handful of times in three months. However it bothered me that I could not call my wife if I was at the store or wanted to share a thought.

In steps the, “Makito.” I do not know the origin of the name, but it is basically a throwaway phone. So now I carry my little 10 dollar phone and proudly welcome the thieves.

Today I am traveling across the country in a bus, so have three phones. My Makito in my front pants pocket, my new Huawei phone in a velcro closed front pocket and my old Samsung backup in a money belt hidden under my pants around my waste. I am prepared for all scenarios now. Hail the Makito!