Lately I have been locking my wallet in the the glove box. Purse is still in car but not the money.

Both car windows were smashed. Purses in plain view.

They were just asking for a breakin.

Glenda,
I hope you're putting your in the trunk while still at home,otherwise someone could be watching you at the health club parking lot.

Kathi

It's that time of the year. Be very careful, people break into cars during the holidays. When I was working there were 3 cars broke into right at Christmas time.
Never leave a purse, even a empty one or a child's in a car for someone to see it. You will end up with a broken window.

kathi, your idea is well taken

THANK YOU

I agree with Kathi, but if you don't have to go anywhere enroute to or from, just leave things at home. I don't even think gym lockers are all that secure.

When I was going to my gym, I locked my purse in the trunk and went inside. Came out to find my trunk had been broken into. Relacing everything in that purse was awful, my drivers license, credit cards and photos of my children.

We had a theft in my neighborhood a coupe of weeks ago. Someone left their purse in their unlocked car with the garage door open. Someone walked in and took the purse. I carry my keys and credit cards in a wallet that fits into my pocket. No purse needed.

My DD's car window was broken and her purse (which was on the seat) was taken just a couple months ago in her college parking lot. Thankfully she had her wallet and all her important things with her. The thief did get a camera, a small Coach wallet and her nice Kathy bag. I've told her a million times not to leave her purse sitting in her car like that, but would she listen to me???

My cousin's car was also broken into around that time... as was every car in the parking lot where he lives. The thief's took GPS's, stereos, other electronics.

Over this weekend the Shreveport TV station reported that a van windo was smashed and all the gifts children from a small church had purchased had been stolen. I can't imagine any supervisor telling the kids they would be ok in the car/van

I don't leave anything on the seats that might tempt a break in. Let them move right on by.

I don't think that would deter some people.Most people out to steal something would probably take the chance thinking there might be a purse or wallet in the glove compartment,floor or console.What do they have to lose?? Just a thought.LOL
I have my purse with me at all times,never leave it in the car.

I've gotten a very thorough education on this subject since I was pickpocketed last spring.

DO NOT even leave your purse in the trunk. When I went in to replace my SS card, the gal who waited on me told me that every Monday they have tons of people coming in to replace those, BECAUSE THEIR TRUNKS were broken into at the shopping centers or movie theaters, etc, over the weekend. The crooks know a lot of folks put their purses in the trunk. Not worth taking that chance, either.

And please--as often as this warning is issued, I see people doing it every time I go shopping--NEVER leave your purse in the seat of a shopping cart. And don't hang it over the back of your chair in a restaurant. Keep it on you, in your hands or in your lap at all times. This sort of stealing is truly of epidemic proprotions--in many cases it's very organized, so that it's hard to catch the perpetrators.

Especially this time of year, when stores are crowded and everyone's frazzled, be super careful. It's a huge pain in the neck to have to deal with the aftermath.

I wouldn't. But SO will leave something in my car like a camera case.
"Don't leave that there in plain sight."
"There's nothing in it."
"Right and I don't want my window broken out for them to realize that."

I read that article. That was just plain senseless that the woman would leave the purse in there. A robbery waiting to happen!!

When I pump gas myself I always put my bag on the driver's side floor closer to my door. This way, if anyone is going to think about opening the passenger door to try to steal my bag, it will be a far reach and more than likely, they won't get away with it. I never stray away from my car's side when I pump gas, never, and should I have to go inside, the purse comes with me and the doors get locked.

I can't tell you how many times I've had to nicely confront women in stores about placing their purses in the cart and walking away to look at something. AND, many times, these purses are unzipped. Some are very appreciative, and others give me a nasty look like it's none of my business.

I always carry a crossover bag so I can be hands free when shopping AND the purse is in front of me not allowing anyone to bump me in a crowded place and steal. I always buy zippered bags (never, ever snaps) as well since they are harder to steal from.

Don't walk around with a lot of valuable or hard to replace *stuff*. When I go to the grocery I put my drivers licence, my store customer card and my CC in an inside pocket. That's all I need for most errands.

Never park and then 'hide' something in your trunk. You'll never see the person with binoculars and a cell phone who is ready to direct another person to punch out your trunk lock the minute you are out of sight.

Our police sergeant friend says our citizens seem to believe there's a magic safety bubble over our town. They don't lock up their valuables, their cars, their houses, their bikes. "Oh, I was only going to be gone for a minute." The police blotter is constantly filled with thefts where residents left valuables in an unlocked car in a driveway or in an open garage overnight! We were burgled in five minutes when DH left the garage door open while he took the dog out. I was in the jet tub while the thief was lifting my jewelry.

The sergeant says thieves 'Christmas shop' along our streets, knowing that they will easily find nice things. They are in and out in three minutes. Even if you have security (and USE it), they are long gone before anyone can be on the scene. These thieves aren't interested in anything but jewelry and cash. No getting caught trying to wrestle anything big. They can buy what they want with the fenced proceeds of the quick hit.

When I go shopping, I always use the buckle in the cart for babies to wrap around my purse. This way, if someone takes my purse, they're taking the whole buggy with them.
Plus I never walk away from the buggy either. If I have to walk away I unbuckle and take my purse with me.

I do what Linda_6 does with the seat buckle....and never walk away from my cart. If someone tried to grab my purse, they'd have to tussle with that buckle first. Of course, if someone was a serious purse snatcher, all they'd have to do is use a razor blade or knife to slash thru the belt.

That buckle trick is ONLY going to stop the rankest amateur. DO NOT PUT YOUR PURSE IN THE CART AT ALL. I cannot say that often enough, or loud enough.

Interestingly, DH was just telling me a story about the shopping center where I was robbed last spring. It is in a very upscale town, one that many of you, all over the country would recognize if I dropped the name. The merchants there have put a great deal of effort into keeping the danger of shopping there quiet. There is a HUGE pickpocket/robbery problem in this center, but unfortunately, the word isn't getting out to the public who like to shop in the very pricey stores. Wel.... Just last night, one of the stores was robbed, the police got there while the robbery was still in progress (their station is only about 2 blocks away), and somehow, one of the crooks got their hands on one of the police cars. It was found, some time later, burned. Last I heard, they had caught one, but not all the perpetrators. Now, that has nothing to do with this topic--it's not a crime against another shopper per se--but it does illustrate that it's dangerous out there and getting more so.

I'll say it again--please, please be careful. The 'wish' that 'it won't happen to me, not in my town' is no protection at all.

Azzalea -- Evidently the POLICE need to be reminded to 'lock up' -- not to leave the keys in the ignition?

Of course thieves flock to upscale shopping centers. It's where expensive goods are on display -- in stores and on the shoppers. As Willie Sutton supposedly replied when asked why he robbed banks, "Because that's where the money is."

Seatbelting your purse in the cart is dangerous too. When I was a teenager, I was shopping in the produce section with my mom and sister. A lady walked up fast, grabbed our cart that was sitting there and then made a beeline out out of the area. My sister and I followed the lady because she had our groceries. She dumped our cart with groceries in another area of the store. There was no purse in the cart, but I suspect the lady thought there might be and that is why she took our cart.

Azzalea - I just read that article in this morning's paper. My first thought was that it might be a good idea for police cars to be equipped with keyless ignition system- then they can keep the keys in their pocket and not leave them in the ignition.

This weekend I was at the supermarket and a young woman left her open bag in the seat of the shopping cart and then walked around the end produce display to pick bananas. I stood across from her cart (I didn't want to get too close and draw suspicion) and when she returned tried to suggest in my nicest, non-MOM voice that it would be so easy for someone to just reach in the open purse and walk away with her wallet.

She agreed with me. But a few minutes later did the same thing. Then I thought that maybe she was a decoy and the police were watching - but nope- she went through the checkout lane next to mine with a bunch of groceries.

I don't carry a purse when i go shopping,i just carry a wallet,and put it in the pocker of my jacket,both pockets on that jacket have zippers on them and also have inside pockets.

I do carry a tote bag when going to the dr or something like that,as i take books along to read or puzzle books,and once again my wallet is in my pocket.

Kathi

Hi maire cate,

When the lady who continued to do the unwise thing of leaving her purse in her cart while she detoured, then did it again, when she was going through the checkout, did you mention her second action?

Maybe that'd be a bit much ... being an aisle away ... but I think that I might have, in as diplomatic a way as I could muster ... and I'm pretty sure that I would have, if she were in my lane, next to me.

With a bit of a smile and a sprightly expression: calling her unwise habit to her attention, again, without rubbing it in, if possible: a suggestion for her greater safety, rather than a criticism.

ole joyful