General Chat

This must happen far more than we realise.

As Liz says:

Take care everyone, and be aware of those around you.

Chris x

She got too greedy then Chrissie, so glad she was caught this time and will have to appear in court. I wonder how many times she got away with stealing from others tho and whether she will admit to more cases.

Sylvia, what a terrifying thing to happen, you were very brave to look up and see vital evidence happening.

These morons who steal don't care about others, only their own greed but sadly too often people die in these thefts due to the thieves carrying weapons, especially these days.

Take care everyone, and be aware of those around you.

Lizx

Glad you managed to hold onto the envelope Chrissie, and do hope you're over the shock now.
Definitely cannot be too careful and wearing bag, with lots of zips,and underneath coat,is a good idea.
This was how I wore my shoulder bag when on holiday in Italy a few years ago, and after being approached by a young woman (holding a small baby to distract me and also placing a newspaper across my hand)) I was so pleased she couldn't get into my bag.
I pushed her and shouted out loud, she ran off...probably to search for her next victim..... :-(

Chrissie, that is good news. It was, and probably continues to be, a horrible ordeal for you to go through and I hope you are getting over it.

Sylvia, you're experience must've been terrifying!

Thankyou both for making us all aware of what could happen if we're not careful and vigilant. :-)

Chrissie .................

I was for some reason far more upset because I was on my way to see a friend dying of AIDS in the palliative care ward of a downtown hospital.

I needed to get money before doing that ......... and I was one of the 3 people being attended to when the guys came in

But the bank wouldn't / couldn't let me have any money after it was over

By the time I'd waited for and seen the police, and then found another bank downtown, I just did not have time to see my friend 'cos I had to be back home to meet a visitor.

I was so angry about that!


In fact .............. the policeman told us all (those who had stayed behind that is) to go home, and TALK about the events of the afternoon, to anyone who would listen.

He said that talking about it often brought to mind little details otherwise forgotten ................. and also helped "you" to get over it.

Many of my friends laugh at me because I refuse to have a purse. Nearly all my coats have inside pockets and that is where my plastic, and cash remains. Anything in a handbag can make easy pickings so all my handbags have an extra strap which goes over the shoulder, many zips, as well as the two handles which I hold.

I am also a person who has had burglar alarms fitted before having burglars.

My father once offered this piece of advice.....don't trust anyone, ......not even your father.......he was right.....and I don't.

Hope you get over your ordeal and that others learn from your awful experience. -j

Thank you Trish.

Sylvia what an awful experience you went through. Good on you for having the presence of mind to have a quick look but you were very very lucky they gave you a warning and didn't just shoot you. I now feel such a wimp that I still feel very emotional at times about what happened to me.

Chris

Good news that they have caught her.


I do hope that you can recognize her!!


I was in the bank about 15 years ago when three men ran in, and ordered us all lie face down on the ground.

I lifted my head to see if I could see anything ............... just in time to see one of them jump over the counter, and place his hand on there, as well as putting a foot on a nearby low windowsill. Then one of them shouted at me to put my head down or he would shoot me!

I talked to the police .................... most people left as soon as the guys ran out.

What I had seen allowed them to get a palm/hand print as well as a foot print

About 18 months or 2 years later, a police detective came to the house, said they had arrested 3 men, and would I look at some photos to see if I could recognise any of them.

It wasn't helped by the fact that the robbers had worn hats and scarves over their mouths.

So I was looking mainly at eyes

I did my best ...............


............. and then months later I received a summons to appear as a witness for the Prosecution on such-and-such a date.

In the interim, my eyes had got quite bad and I had difficulty recognising people's faces more than about 8 or 10' away .................. I used to recognize people by what they were wearing or how they walked or held themselves.


I was terrified of being a witness, anticipating being really hauled over the coals by the defense lawyers!


The day before I was due to appear, I got a phone call .................... they'd all decided to plead guilty!

Hi Chrissie,
These people always seem to carry on with their vile acts,lets hope you can identify her,and then she might get put away behind bars.
I hope you have recovered from your ordeal.
<3 <3

I got a call from the police today. A woman was arrested yesterday following an incident in a large store in town. After checking the stills taken from the cctv which had been viewed after the offence against me, she was recognised as being the same female who decided to help herself to my money 4 weeks ago.

She denied the offence but has been bailed. I just hope I'm able to identify her.

Chris

when I once had to carry £2,000 in cash to the bank I put the envelope in my bra - I thought to myself - no way is anyone going to be delving in there :-D

New bag purchased.

In future I will make sure I am well aware of who is around me. The police are going to ring me in a few days to see if there is any more cctv showing the women. I so hope they can recover her fingerprints from the envelope and that she is known to the police.

Thank you all for your replies and good wishes.

Chris x

I no longer carry a bag but all the handbags I have purchased over many years have had either/both full zip or flap but more importantly to me another inside zipped pocket which I used to keep my cheque book and then as years went on my credit cards.

I would not doubt for one moment you are still shaken and will be for a bit. You were lucky and so quick at snatching, I wish you well.

Oh my giddy aunt, how lucky are you Chrissie and well done for snatching it back:)))

Take care

jude

How horrible for you Chris, I spend hours looking for the perfect bag.

Pretty much the same happened to me a good few years ago now.

Took my son and mates to the cinema for his birthday and on to Burger King.

Felt my bag being jostled whilst at the counter ordering, the chap standing next to me, very close, was passing something to his mate next to him who then scarpered.

I grabbed the bloke next to me and shouted he had stolen my purse, no reaction from other customers, just blank looks. We did get free meals though, police were called and the boys and I got a lift back to my car in a black mariah, ( I felt like Fagin) you can imagine the other parents reactions, mostly good after the initial shock.

The police even sorted out the parking as the ticket was in my purse. It was the only time I ever had over £200 in it as my boss had just given me a Christmas bonus.

Police said it was Irish travellers who they knew but the CCTV in the shop was turned off so they couldn't prove anything.

It shook me up for a long time after and I still won't leave a counter after paying without hiding my purse at the bottom of my bag and zipping and closing the flap, even though people behind me might have to wait five seconds longer.

I sympathise fully Chris but you were so lucky to be able to grab it back. There are too many people like them who think it is ok just to help themselves to other folks belongings.

Take care and good luck with the handbag search. M

Thank goodness they didn't succeed. Why do people think that they can take others belongings that they've worked hard to acquire or save? What happened to mutual respect?

Although it wouldn't have made any difference to an envelope, I've a chain attaching my purse to the bag, and a small bell hooked onto my credit card wallet. Having (almost) had the purse nicked, I admit that I'm verging on the paranoi!

We do tend to be more aware when we are outside our usual haunts. :-0

Thank you all for your replies.

It was an awful experience but I was very lucky in being able to snatch the money back. My heart goes out to those more vulnerable than I am, the elderly and disabled who get targeted.

Hubby's taking me to get a new bag today, I will take on board what has been said about the type of bag to go for.

Chris x

What an awful experience ,no wonder you are all shook up. Bet it's put you off shopping too for a while.

Glad you got your money back though .hope you can console yourself knowing they didn't get away with it .

Hope the police wil find them

Take care <3

What scum they are! I hope cctv shows their faces.

I'm not surprised you are still shaking.

I hope the trembling stops soon <3

When I go shopping I use a BIG shoulder bag with a zipper and a flap, the strap is long enough to go over my head, so the strap is across my chest, and the flap towards my body. I never leave it in the trolley at the supermarket.

I got into the habit of wearing my bag like that when we spent time in foreign countries.

So glad you got your cash back Chrissie, I can understand how sick you must have felt when the theft happened and hope those women get picked out so they can be watched themselves on cctv, the police and shopping centres do that if they know people are suspect.

If I have any large amounts of money I put it right down the bottom of my bag. I carry a lot of things in my handbag and most are inside a carrier bag so it rustles when it's touched, the money is usually underneath that and my phone is in a little pocket inside so not easily visible.

Maybe you would be best setting up a transfer with your online banking to your son's bank if you have to help him out sometimes. I can do an online transfer in seconds to my son's bank and then he can draw out the cash needed.

Don't let these horrible people stop you getting out.

Lizx