So far this month, I’ve gotten three emails informing me of cell phone thefts in the West Haven area. Police have identified the suspect as a black female with braids driving a white Ford Mustang.

This iPhone snatcher drives up to an unsuspecting student and asks for directions. When the victim looks up the address on their phone, the snatcher asks the student to move in closer—you know, so she can see the map on the screen, of course. This is when the snatching occurs. She grabs the phone out of the person’s hands and drives away.

Seriously? Who in their right mind hands a phone to a stranger? Seriously?? Not only are you handing a phone worth hundreds of dollars to a complete stranger, but you chose to give over your most prized possession (probably) to a stranger in a car who has the ability to drive away.

Don Parker, of the University of New Haven Police Department, has sent out three emails warning students of the phone-snatching woman. This means that after reading the first two emails, students still didn’t have the common sense to simply not hand their phone to a stranger.

I’m honestly dumbfounded by this. This woman is clearly ta king advantage of the students who seem to have misplaced their common sense, and the whole situation in general seems like a poorly constructed Saturday Night Live skit.

Always remember to follow the safety guidelines Campus Police sends out every year. Be aware of your surroundings when you’re alone, especially at night. Always look up when you’re walking—try not to keep your face in your phone; you become a walking target when you do, and most importantly, follow the first rule your mother ever gave you: don’t talk to strangers (especially ones who ask to see your phones).