Ladies, watch your purses/wallets...

[kadee79]

This happened in Ga., but it happens all over the country. Back when I was still working retail, I cautioned women nearly every day to NOT turn their backs on their purses in their shopping cart.

BIBB COUNTY, Ga — The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s in identify two males caught on camera stealing cards from unsuspecting shoppers.

Deputies suspect the two men to be working together, selecting shoppers that are not paying close attention to their belongings.

One of the men will then open an unattended purse and remove the wallet when the customer moves away from their cart, deputies say.

The two men were caught on camera at a Publix in Macon. Deputies say the stolen cards were later used by the men at a Sam’s Club.

www.wsbtv.com/news/local/georgia-county-looking-two-men-photographed-stealing-cards-out-unattended-wallets/NEUZLS5O4NFEJP5OMSPHP7D6EA/

[Tennesseer]

I have brought this issue to the attention of several women over the years at the food store.  The women would wander away from their shopping cart with their handbag still in the cart.

The women did say thank you.

[toomuchreality]

I had my purse stolen while shopping at Walmart. Definitely a set up. One person to cause a distraction (get me to let go of my purse), while a couple walked by and took my purse. It still makes me mad. Because it does, it won't happen again!

[Artemis Windsong]

When my friend and I go shopping, she does this.  Purse open.  I stand by the cart. 

I also see women's purses wide open on the church pews when they go forward for communion.

Then the babies.  I saw a couple I knew at the grocer years ago.  They were watching their DD shop for produce with the baby sitting in the cart.  They walked up and took the baby out of the cart going to the next aisle.  I told them not funny and went on my way.  I don't know what happened after that.

[justme]

This is why I favor crossbody purses. Hands free and out of the way and hard to slip off your shoulder.

[laterbloomer]

Sept 5, 2022 17:03:14 GMT -5 justme said:

This is why I favor crossbody purses. Hands free and out of the way and hard to slip off your shoulder.

I thought that was a given. When I'm shopping, especially grocery shopping, whatever purse I'm using becomes a cross body purse. 

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Sept 5, 2022 17:03:14 GMT -5 justme said:

This is why I favor crossbody purses. Hands free and out of the way and hard to slip off your shoulder.

Same. I liken most cases of a purse stolen from a shopping cart to people who stupidly leave their cars unlocked, worse if they leave valuables in plain sight in the unlocked car. 

[NoNamePerson]

Sept 6, 2022 6:35:50 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Sept 5, 2022 17:03:14 GMT -5 justme said:

This is why I favor crossbody purses. Hands free and out of the way and hard to slip off your shoulder.

Same. I liken most cases of a purse stolen from a shopping cart to people who stupidly leave their cars unlocked, worse if they leave valuables in plain sight in the unlocked car. 

I don’t leave valuables in plain sight in a locked car! 

[Tiny]

It's ALWAYS a good reminder to keep track of your personal stuff no matter where you are...

As the weather gets cooler/colder and your sweaters/jackets/coats come out - be aware this this kind of theft can happen if you keep your wallet in a pocket of your outerwear - especially if it is loosely fitting (as in the pocket your valuables are in kind of flops around or hangs away from your body.

Pre pandemic - A friend ran into the grocery to pick up a couple of things on her list and put her wallet in her sweater/jacket pocket and her phone on the other side pocket (and since she didn't have the jacket zipped up the front ends (and the pockets) hung down loosely away from her body.) A pick pocket took advantage and came in close while she was leaning over the "meat case freezer" to pull out packaged chicken - and took her wallet. She remembers being annoyed that someone "invaded her personal space" - could they just wait until she grabbed what she was getting from the case? She didn't realize her wallet was gone until she got to the check out.

I've had my purse stolen, still bitter about that - I had some keep sakes in my purse that are gone forever. I take full responsibilty - my purse was in a "tote bag" that I hung over the back of my chair in a McDonalds. I felt OK because my chair wasn't facing an aisle and there were people at a table behind me (and there was no space for someone to go between me and the people at the table behind me. And my purse was inside at the bottom of the bag.

A few months after the lost purse... I had my wallet picked out of my winter coat pocket (a wool coat with non zippered pockets) - while in a crowd/group waiting to get thru a revolving door into a building.

It's not just the "easy pickings" of unattended valuables that thieves go after.

I know more and more women do not carry purses (at least in my densely populated area). I think they use their phone or their watch to pay for stuff. Or they have a phone case with a pocket for drivers license and credit cards. Or maybe there's a way to have that stuff "in" your phone....   Or maybe they just carry a thin "wallet" thing with their cards in it that they can keep in a secure/tight/close pocket of their clothing.     


And to repeat - it's always a good plan to think about how secure your valuables will be when out and about. And not in a "I must clutch my valuables to my chest and give everyone the evil eye and be afraid and threatening" way. But, in a common sense kind of way.

[Tiny]

Sept 6, 2022 6:35:50 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Sept 5, 2022 17:03:14 GMT -5 justme said:

This is why I favor crossbody purses. Hands free and out of the way and hard to slip off your shoulder.

Same. I liken most cases of a purse stolen from a shopping cart to people who stupidly leave their cars unlocked, worse if they leave valuables in plain sight in the unlocked car.  

I try to not leave anything of value in my car. When I do leave something in the "seat" area of my vehicle I make sure I will put it on the floor and if it's not something that's already black I will cover it with a black "reusable" bag I keep in the car for this purpose. I usually know ahead of time that I will be leaving the thing in my car when I put it in my car - so that's when I cover it. I don't do it when I get to where I'm going (so someone will see me futzing with covering/moving what's in my car, before I leave it.) I don't want someone to be ablet o walk past my car, look in and be able to easily see there's something there to steal.   If they are going to break into my vehicle - I want them going in 'blind' not knowing for sure that there's something that might be worthwhile there.... 

[Tiny]

The same thing with porch pirates. I have some of my Amazon packages delivered to a nearby locker so I can pick it up at my convenience.

I do my best to make sure my Chewy delivery will happen on a day I will be home and then I make the effort to check the delivery window and then watch my phone for the notification of the delivery so I can get the package quickly.


That was the best thing about USPS deliveries - the mailperson would put the package between my front door and screen door - which would shield the package from view from the sidewalk/street.

All of the other delivery services just put the package in the middle of my porch right at the edge of the stairs. A thief only has to walk up two steps (of 5) to get my package. I HATE that. even when I request that the package be put closer to the door - it doesn't always happen.

[Artemis Windsong]

I know a woman who took a course in fingersmithing or pick pocketing.  She told the group she was researching for a book.  They let her in.

In a coffee shop, another friend walked up behind her asking why she had her hand in my waist pack.  She kept lightly bumping me.  This is a wealthy woman.  She was also in a women's group I was in.  She was president just one year and quit the group.  I had the feeling something happened there.

Another time I was in the theater.  I had a small shoulder cross body bag.  I saw a group of overactive teens with different, striking hair styles.  First I saw them sneaking in and out the side door of the theater.  All the aisles were crowded.  A few surrounded me basically pushing me into a pillar.  It didn't take long and they had snatched just a $20 bill from my little fold wallet.  They left $8.  This group must have had look outs at the ticketing area to see what kind of wallets and purses people were using.

This happened on my watch as a league coordinator where money chipped in then there is a pay out for the winners.  One of the women asked if I was $3 over since her change didn't work out but she noticed it after the competition.  One of the hostesses was dollar switching; but I couldn't figure out how she did it when she tried it on me.  I counted my change when I was handed folded bills.