Is Purse Snatching Still a Thing?
Movies and television shows often depict people being mugged on the street. The thief snatches a woman’s purse or holds up a man for his watch and wallet. It is easy to dismiss these stories as “Hollywood.” But is purse snatching something to be concerned about? According the the FBI’s 2015 Crime Report, there were 23,075 purse snatchings in the US in 2015. So while it isn’t as common as car theft or shoplifting, it is still something to watch out for!
Getting the Goods
Having your purse stolen scares you but also results in lots of work to report items missing, get new cards and ID, etc. In some cases the criminals are brazen and aggressive, counting on surprise and a speedy getaway. Others are more methodical and covert, hoping you don’t notice the theft for awhile so they can run up your credit cards.
The news recently covered a not-very-successful attempt at a drive-by purse snatching. While the criminal didn’t get the purse, he almost ran over the woman. He also came close to hitting several vehicles. The woman and a friend were walking in to a Target store when he pulled up next to them and tried to grab the purse off her shoulder. He missed her purse and grabbed the hood of her jacket instead. Then he dragged her for several feet before letting go of her hood. With all this commotion, he lost control of the vehicle during the process and almost hit several other cars.
Smash and grab is another common practice for getting purses. The purse may be left on the seat while you quickly run in to pick up your child at day care or while you are pumping gas. A smash and grab only takes seconds so you should never leave your purse in the car even for just a couple of minutes. Locked doors are no deterrent as they will simply break the window, grab and go.
Escalation
Desperate criminals will simply come up to you, grab the purse and take off. Many women have been known to hang on dearly to the purse or even fight back. This is ill-advised by authorities. Purse snatchers are opportunists and usually do not want to get violent. But if you resist or fight back, they may assault you, push you down or drag you as they try to get away.
Purse snatchers also look for people who appear to be traveling or tourists. They assume you will have cash in your purse and that it will be harder for you to report the situation since you are away from home.
Covert Operation
While you should never leave your purse unattended, it is especially true while you are shopping. Many women put their purse in the front of the shopping cart while they shop. You may wander over to check the freshness of the avocados, thinking your purse is safe. Thieves have been known to prowl looking for just this scenario. They may grab your whole purse or just reach inside and grab your wallet. You are less likely to notice your missing wallet until you make it to the cash register.
One woman reported a stranger at Target engaging her in conversation and asking her questions about items for sale in the store. She didn’t realize it right away but the woman was distracting her so she could grab her wallet out of her purse. This woman did notice in time and was able to call security and get her wallet back. Unfortunately, store security didn’t want to get involved as the customer wasn’t stealing from them but from another customer. The thief was allowed to walk out of the store and move on to her next victim.
Another strategy for getting your wallet out of your purse is at a restaurant. Many women hang their purse on the back of the chair, never dreaming someone would see that as an opportunity. The thieves casually walk through the restaurant, reaching into purses and grabbing the wallets out. They then head to the nearest store to buy electronics, gift cards and other things with your credit card while you continue your meal, completely in the dark!
It’s in the Bag
Sometimes the thieves aren’t even interested in what’s inside the purse. They want the purse itself. A high-end designer bag sells for a lot of money on online selling sites, even if it is used. For some, this is a bigger incentive than getting some cash (maybe) and access to credit cards that will likely be cancelled within a few hours.
In addition to the purse being stolen through all of the means above, be aware of the risk of this for bags you may keep at home when you are not using. Cleaning staff, exterminators, caregivers or others who may have access to your home have come up with some sneaky ways to remove the items without your noticing. By the time you go to use the bag, it may have been weeks or months since they took it and you won’t have any way of tracking who took it or where it went.
We Can Help!
Keep thieves at bay in your home with a video surveillance system. Cultris has been helping customers with all of their security needs for 13 years. Call us today for a free consultation at 281-506-8466 or visit us online.
