Protect Your Purse!

I was almost another victim. I was in the parking lot of a big box store heading in to buy groceries. Broad daylight. Not a lot of people around. As I was walking in, a guy just magically appeared next to me at the edge of my personal space. Again, not a lot of people around. Red flag went up. My purse was on my right shoulder, he was on my left. Instantly I started muttering to myself and fake went into my purse and flat out blurted, “oh I forgot my list!” I turned away from him abruptly and headed back to the car with a purpose. I think he bought it because he continued into the store. This story continues.

 Now I am much more aware of my surroundings. I went into the pharmacy side because I needed a few items in that department. I got my few items and turned back towards the grocery side but slowed my roll. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t forgetting something. Just then, another guy, same build, and height, tall and slender was suddenly next to me, his shoulder practically touching mine. Again, not many people in the store so why is this guy in my personal space? I immediately grabbed my purse handle and turned away. Nothing was said and there was no proof he was up to something, but my gut said so. I always trust my gut. What are the odds that 2 different men were within my personal space within 20 minutes? I assumed they were working together. Another red flag. This is the reason why I am writing this.

 As a reminder, men and women can be thieves. I know somebody who’s purse was stolen by a woman also in a grocery store. Another said she was a victim of a team. One distracted her while the other walked by and ever so carefully, lifted her purse. She went around the aisle to escape. The other kept talking to her and had her looking in the opposite direction and then carefully claimed she had found what she was looking for and left the aisle going in the opposite direction. It took my friend about 2 minutes before she realized what had happened. The thieves were gone. We want to be nice and helpful as a good person should. But we must realize that the person we are being nice to may have an ulterior motive. We just need to be aware. In that case, she could have held onto her purse or stood with her hands on her cart and her purse. Bad guys are so smart! We need to be smarter and not let our guard down. Neither one got their purse, money or credit cards returned. But they did get a big headache. Calling in to all their credit cards, replacing their driver’s licenses and of course contacting their banks to get new numbers.

 I wanted to let you know what I do now when I go to the grocery store. First off, it doesn’t matter if I’m alone or not, there are people who will steal your purse or whatever from you when you’re not looking. In fact, my purse is more at risk when my husband is with me because we have a false sense of security. I may take a step away from the cart and hubby is looking to where I am and not watching the cart either.

 I am one who does not like to wear a cross body purse but that is a good option. I don’t keep my purse on my shoulder during grocery shopping which I feel is easier to grab and go but also hinders shopping. There are several things you can do to protect your purse. The first one is to use the child seat strap. Click your seat strap through your purse handle. At least if someone is to grab your purse, it is now stuck to the cart and is harder to release it without a fuss. I used to do this but have gotten away from it. Not anymore. But please note, if you have a purse that is wide open in the cart, remember that someone can reach right in and take a wallet and leave that cute Vera Wang bag right there. I can’t tell you how many times I have seen these open bags just screaming to get hit.

 Next, and this is my favorite, is to place groceries right on top of my purse so it’s hard to see under those items. Again, it would be harder to find the purse, grab it while it’s also locked within the child seat straps. But if you do have that large purse, you could put it into the bottom of the cart again with groceries on top to dissuade the bad guy, or girl.

 Another thing I do is to put my cell phone into my pocket so in the event my purse gets stolen, I can get on the phone right away with the police. I also take my debit card and place that in my other pocket, so I have access to money. So that leaves me with, do I really need to take a purse at all? I do not like leaving my purse, even if hidden, in my vehicle, especially at a store like that where all types of people wander by. Side story - I’ve had my car broken into at a beach and even though my purse was deeply hidden under my seat, it was grabbed along with some of our camping equipment. This was a crew who would appear to be standing by “their” car in a tight group when one of them would break a window and then they all would rifle through it within 60 seconds. They hit 15 cars that morning.

 But back to the stores. I have also just left my purse at home. I take my driver’s license, my credit card, and my cell phone. But I can only do this if I have pockets. Protect the creds! You don’t want to drop anything.

 The last piece of this story is the parking lot. Of course this applies to any parking lot. Always park in a lighted area if you can.  And if you can’t, rethink that store. Never park between 2 vans or large vehicles as they can be a grab and go type of situation. You want to be seen. Look out for people who suddenly get near you or seem to follow you. If you feel uncomfortable, call someone or pretend to be talking to someone. If you have to, yell over to another person as if you know them and are moving over to chat with them. Distract the situation or let them know you are very aware of them. They are used to grabbing from the unsuspecting. Another option is to veer over to another aisle or if you can, head back into the store. Trust your gut.

 Question – what do you do with your purse when you reach your car? Do you immediately put it into your car and lock it back up while you load up the trunk? Or does it stay in your cart? You look around and don’t see anybody - at first.

What if you are being watched? Remember, bad guys are smart. They go for those whose guard is down. Keep in mind how simple it is to push your cart to your car, open it up to fill up your trunk. As you place your bags in the trunk, you keep turning away from your cart exposing your purse. If you don’t lock your purse in the car, at least set it into your trunk out of plain sight at least while you finish loading your bags. Do a final sweep for people who should not be too close. Then grab your purse, get in your car, and lock the doors.

 And always, be aware of your surroundings, no matter what. Kick it up a notch. It will be second nature in no time. You don’t have to live in fear, but we all have to be aware.