Posted by 101livescan on 7/3/13 12:39pm
Msg #475489

Distraction while shopping? HIGH ALERT!

While I was having dinner at my favorite Mediterranean restaurant after a long day, I couple came in and sat at the wine bar next to me. She was saying that her wallet had just been stolen at Von's while she was shopping, and she had just finished calling all her credit card companies to report these, as well as her checkbook, DL, medicare card and Health Insurance information. Meanwhile, whoever stole her handbag had quickly walked across the parking lot and purchased cash gift cards on one of her Visa cards. While the Von's market security cameras "purportedly" did not capture anyone taking her entire purse out of her grocery cart, the CVS security cameras did capture a young woman purchasing the gift cards of $300 each on this lady's VISA card.

This is the third story I've heard this month of wallets/handbags being stolen in grocery stores. This lady is 75 years old, had her list, and her husband was also shopping with her and neither of them observed her handbag being removed from the basket of the grocery cart. The thief probably stuffed the handbag into her clothing and cavalierly strolled out of the market right to CVS before these could be reported. There was little cash in the handbag.

So once again, folks, when I go shopping from now on, I am absolutely taking only the card or cash I intend to use and leave my handbag in my car hidden on the backseat floor. This seems to be an epidemic.

Please be careful! This is a serious and growing problem for those of us focused on doing the right thing. There are so many desperate, criminal minded people out there waiting to take advantage of those who are completely unaware of their intentions.

Reply by ikando on 7/3/13 12:57pm
Msg #475490

I'm with you in passing the warning along, Cheryl. I can't tell you the number of times I've been shopping at the grocery and passed carts that women have left their bags, oftentimes wide open, sitting in the cart. Sometimes they'll be aware that I'm looking at their bag, but more often when I bring it to their attention, they get all flustered and upset. What are they thinking?

I would caution you, though, to put your purse in the trunk rather than the back seat, even if you have tinted windows. It's more obvious if someone's trying to jimmy the trunk lock, and simple for someone to punch out the windows. I make it a practice to leave nothing obvious in the passenger compartment because it could attract unwanted attention. All things are in the console, the glove compartment or the trunk. It can be inconvenient, but it's worth it to me to be safer.

Reply by 101livescan on 7/3/13 1:11pm
Msg #475491

I don't have a trunk...but I'm very careful not to park too far away from the "security guard" posted at the front door of the grocery.

Reply by Linda Juenger on 7/3/13 1:14pm
Msg #475492

I hate using a purse. I keep one in my car with essentials hidden under the 3rd seat of my SUV. What I do carry with me while shopping is a wristlet I bought from 31. I love it. It holds my cards and phone and the strap goes around my hand and hangs from my wrist. So, it is ALWAYS attached to me while shopping. I love it and just ordered another one in a new print.

Reply by loancloser46 on 7/3/13 1:33pm
Msg #475494

Thank you for this reminder......

I have a bad habit of not paying enough attention to my bag while shopping. I am fortunate enough to live in a very safe region of the country however that probably makes it even easier for a thief,they know we don't expect things like that to happen here. It can happen anywhere.

Reply by 101livescan on 7/3/13 2:09pm
Msg #475497

NOTE: Gift Card purchases are not trackable!

Once the thief has purchased gift cards, they can be used for anything,redeemable by any merchant who will accept, including exchanging for cash, depending on the card.

Furthermore, grocery store managers can hardly handle/manage the theft of personal property in their stores. They can hardly manage the shoplifters, calling the police, writing their reports, store prosecution, etc.

They are already short handed! This is an added headache, and they don't care to assist the victims whose personal handbag or wallet has been stolen.

Reply by Darlin_AL on 7/3/13 2:13pm
Msg #475498

Helpful Suggestion--Re: Distraction while shopping?

A few decades ago, my policeman son instructed me to always secure my purse by the strap with the baby straps on the cart. At that time, I couldn't do a store w/out my purse, now I carry my too big cell in a small camera bag, plus necessary card, keys--on a strap/belt around my waist. The baby strap is just a small deterrant--still have to keep eye on cart, but with your back turned while you examine goods to be purchased--the purse will not be quickly "snatched". A helper at Costco got a surprise when as she was emptying my cart, she grabbed my purse to hand it to me on the other side of the belt & got a 100# cart with it.Ooooooops

Reply by 101livescan on 7/3/13 2:40pm
Msg #475504

Re: Helpful Suggestion--Re: Distraction while shopping?

HA! I was thinking how much a big ole mousetrap would be, or a rattlesnake...surprise, surprise, surprise!

Reply by SharonMN on 7/3/13 4:03pm
Msg #475512

Re: Helpful Suggestion--Re: Distraction while shopping?

Another helpful type is to put your purse in the way bottom of the cart, underneath the child seat, and pile your groceries on top of it.

Reply by Karla/OR on 7/3/13 6:24pm
Msg #475535

That's how I do it too! n/m

Reply by TeriW/CA on 7/3/13 7:45pm
Msg #475560

Re: Helpful Suggestion--Re: Distraction while shopping?

I have strapped my purse in with the baby seat belt since they started installing them. My wallets, I have two, are those aluminum wallets. I have two because they don't hold as much as they say on TV. Those I keep in the zippered section of my purse, so if someone reached in my purse to grab my wallet, they would probably just get my glasses case or my make-up bag, lol...

Reply by Shoshana/AZ on 7/3/13 3:53pm
Msg #475510

I have recently returned from Paris where this kind of theft is rampant due to the fact that kids under the age of 18 cannot be prosecuted for this because that's the law. I noticed that 9 out of 10 Parisian ladies carry cross body bags!

Reply by Belinda/CA on 7/3/13 4:16pm
Msg #475514

Some piece of trash tried to steal my purse out from under

my baby who was in the car seat that was setting in the bottom of the basket. She tumped over my sweet baby and was struggling with the bag. I jumped around the cart and through her into a dress rack before she knew what hit her. My baby was freaking out screaming and she was wrestling the bag that was stuck. She did not care she had hurt my baby. She just kept throwing her around trying to get the purse. Good thing I was busy with my baby or she would have been trapped under a basket until the police got there. Piece of trash. Some people will do anything and have no feelings but for themselves.

I also had someone try and steal my baby right out of the car seat. When that didn't work, they disappeared. I got the baby out and was holding her and cuddling her and my girlfriend was trying to find security. THEN the woman came back around in about 5 minutes and tried to get her out of my arms! YES! Wouldn't you liked to have seen that! The police said once a crazy person sets their sights on a particular children they will do anything to get that one child. I had to not go straight home, the police gave us a ride somewhere and I had to have someone else go get my car so this crazy person would not know what we drove. It was an all day event. The police even said these people will break into your house to take the child if they find out where you live. Talk about a frightening experience! I didn't leave the house again for weeks.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 7/3/13 5:45pm
Msg #475526

Re: Some piece of trash tried to steal my purse out from under

Wow! So sorry you went through all of that. I hope that person is locked away somewhere and that you never have any contact with her again! This could have ended up much, much worse...

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 7/3/13 3:57pm
Msg #475511

Back in the 70's my mother in law had her wallet stolen out of her purse while it was in the shopping cart.

Also, if you have a GPS on the dashboard, put it under the seat or out of site when you leave your vehicle. And do not have "Home" as a point of interest.

Reply by Belinda/CA on 7/3/13 4:06pm
Msg #475513

I have a little rope climbing hook/latch thing on each of my

purses. It easily hooks and unhooks to the grocery baskets. You can't notice the hook unless you know it is there. They are carabiner climbing hooks you can pick up at many different stores. They come in all colors to match any bag. The link below shows what I am talking about.

http://www.aliexpress.com/wholesale/wholesale-carabiner-climbing-hooks.html
The first colorful selection shows what I use. They slip right on and come right off.

Some day, if someone ever tries to pick up my purse they will be surprised. Hopefully, if it ever happens they will try and run at the same time and take the whole basket crashing after them. I laugh thinking about it now.

Of course, they can snag your wallet without the purse. But, this is my answer to the potential thieves.

Reply by LKT/CA on 7/3/13 4:34pm
Msg #475515

I've transitioned in going "purse-free". I only carry lip gloss, cell phone, a small card case with just the essentials, and cash in my pocket. I'm also hands-free with my cell phone - wear a blue tooth earpiece. When you hold a phone to your ear...that's one less hand to defend yourself with.

Reply by Buddy Young on 7/3/13 6:56pm
Msg #475542

Re: Cheryl, where do you shop that they need

to post a security guard at the front door?

Of course I'm up north and we don't have to have security guards at the door. It must be different in the metropolitan areas.

Reply by sueharke on 7/3/13 7:17pm
Msg #475551

I use the baby straps on the shopping cart to tie my purse in. If the strap has a broken end, I tie the two parts in a knot. This makes it very hard to take something that is tied down.