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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to tell people to be aware of thieves while xmas shopping

30 replies

MsMarvel · 27/11/2014 14:26

Yesterday in town I'm pretty sure I nearly had my bag stolen. I was walking along a pedestrianised area and noticed a guy walking quite close to my right shoulder. I slowed down thinking he wanted past me, and he slowed down too. I then sped up again and so Did he.

I was starting to get freaked out at this point and stopped dead. He stopped abruptly as well and then quickly turned and walked into the nearest shop. I went into a different shop to hide for a while and when I left about 5 mins later he walked past me in the opposite direction, so he must have come out of the shop he went into as soon as I was out of sight.

Tbh it might not even have been anything, but I had my handbag over my right shoulder. Nothing was taken from my bag, so he wasn't a pickpocket, but I suspect he was looking for a good moment to grab my bag and run. It really freaked me out.

Please be careful of busy city centres, and scummy thieves who are taking advantage of distracted people in town doing Xmas shopping.

OP posts:
youareallbonkers · 27/11/2014 15:55

I think anyone who NEEDS to be told this isn't actually going to take any notice. However not every stranger is out to harm you

Minerves · 27/11/2014 16:06

once i was out with a friend quite late at night and there was a man on the other side of the road who i noticed staring at us, i didn't tell my friend but got her to turn around and we walked the other way, and the man did the same, again i turned us around and the man turned around too. other side of the road but clearly following us. very scary! i ended up saying lets go into a restaurant and told her abotu eh man when we got inside

DoraGora · 27/11/2014 16:07

If you see somebody acting suspiciously, the best thing to do is make sure that you get a good description of them and tell the local police. The police are making a brilliant job of not being around and when around, being impossible to speak to, but there it is.

lollilou · 27/11/2014 16:08

Last year my Mum went to get a cup of tea. She put her carrier bags next to her and chatted to my sister. When they got up to leave one of them had gone. Def stolen.Sad

Original poster
MsMarvel · 27/11/2014 16:15

It's nice to assume that everyone is going to be on guard and alert all the time, but I just thought I'd give a wee reminder that it just takes a split second of being distracted, trying to think of what else you need to buy, noticing something in a shop window or struggling with lots of bags, for someone to take advantage.

Not sure why you seem to have taken offence to a friendly warning youareallbonkers?

OP posts:
LightastheBreeze · 27/11/2014 16:27

YANBU as someone who nearly had their bag stolen on holiday and then when they realised they were not going to get my bag off me, they went and grabbed another woman's bag, which was casually slung over her shoulder. It was ripped from her, bruising all her arm and has made me permanently vigilant, after this I always use a cross body bag and hold it close, it was really scary.

Nomama · 27/11/2014 16:31

I was stalked like that last year. I used my Nana's trick... I stopped and pointed, long straight arm, directly at the person who was bothering me.... they walked off really quickly.

Doesn't always work, I once had to splutter something about how sorry I was as they looked just like someone I knew... sorry, sorry, bye Smile

Original poster
MsMarvel · 27/11/2014 16:47

My dp has advised me to get a hot water and lemon from a coffee shop if I'm in town on my own, so that I have something to throw at them. Don't know if that's a bit excessive though.

I normally have my hand resting over the flap of my bag anyway, so I can catch it in case the strap falls off my shoulder. So I Imagine he might have been following me to wait till I moved my hand to check my phone, or flick my hair, or any other number of reasons why I might move my hand if I wasn't paying attention.

OP posts:
Allbymyselfagain · 27/11/2014 16:54

A timely reminder! My dad nearly had his wallet pick pocketed in town a while ago. My mum spotted the guy walking really close to dad with his eyes on his back pocket (where dad, having been told a thousand times not to, still keeps it!) my mum moved behind dad and inbetween them and this guy was still right behind them. In the end she put her hand in dads back pocket over his wallet and gave the guy a filthy look. The guy turned around and walked in the opposite direction so definatly dodgy.
I think we just all have to be extra vigilant.

iamjustlurking · 27/11/2014 17:00

I took my late teen DD into town last week I we sat on a chair in a shop whilst they showed me handbags. I had my bags all round my feet with my handbag between them.
Someone must have sneaked round and picked one up. Totally gutting didn't notice until I stood up to go to the till.

nancy75 · 27/11/2014 17:06

I used to work n a shoe shop, thieves know women put their bags down to try on shoes and then leave them on the floor while they walk over to the mirror, shoe shod and cafes are the worst places for it happening. It always amazed me how people would just leave stuff unattended. If I am going somewhere likely to be very busy I use a small cross body bag under my coat

DollyParsnip · 27/11/2014 17:11

Also a reminder to keep bags of newly purchased stuff close by. There has been a spate of these robberies near me - people putting shopping into trollies or onto seats in cafes and finding they've gone later. They can be returned or swapped in stores (even without original cards).

Fluffyears · 27/11/2014 17:31

I was in shop abroad and felt my bag being tugged then noticed it was wide open (I akways close it) then noticed a shifty looking couple who legged it out of shop. Luckily they didn't get anything. I also had a guy pretend to stagger into me and put his hand in my bag one night. I jabbed his arm with my keys.

sherapower · 27/11/2014 18:01

YANBU; I had a bag stolen last year in a similar fashion. Sad

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 27/11/2014 18:20

I think if I were in a crowded place with lots of people around I would spin around and yell "BACK OFF, ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME?!" in the loudest and most deranged voice I could muster perhaps with demented hand waving in their direction. Making a spectacle and drawing attention to their behaviour is the last thing they want and crazy is really unpredictable and scary and they like predictable so they can control the encounter.

SelfconfessedSpoonyFucker · 27/11/2014 18:21

Oh and if you are going to be in a place likely to be rife with pickpockets I suggest a cross body bag and a safety pin to secure the zip.

Cleio · 27/11/2014 18:22

I had my phone ripped out of my hand as I was coming out of a bank sending a text. There was a security guard there who did nothing other then saying it happens all time.

Wouldn't have minded so much (old crappy phone) except the fucker thought it necessary to push me over in the process. I was 39 weeks pregnant at the time and could barely walk for a few days from sore muscles. Couldn't get up without help either!

When I went to report it with the guards they kindly offered to drop me at the hospital though.

Anyway, point is, mind your phone as well. Smart phones are a popular target and they will happily rip tgem out of your hand as you're using it.

Poolomoomon · 27/11/2014 19:44

Yy to phones. I always use a small cross body bag and keep it really close to me and try and avoid getting my phone out as much as possible in public too. I witnessed a woman getting hers ripped out of her hands once and it's stayed with me since. Bastards they are Angry. Also try not to carry much cash on you, I very rarely have more than a tenner in cash on me and just use my card to pay for everything. It's easy to call the bank up quickly and let them know, can't get money back though.

Thebodynowchillingsothere · 27/11/2014 21:08

Yes op good post.

I use satchel type bag so would need to be abducted if someone wanted my money. Smile

gastrognome · 28/11/2014 05:36

I've lived in a few cities where pickpocketing/bag snatching is rife so it is second nature to me to be careful now. Always keep bag tightly under my arm with zips/openings against my body. Never put bag on back of chair or out of sight in a cafe or restaurant. Etc etc.
I'd never buy a handbag that doesn't have a zip closure either - so many bags are completely open, or just have a popper/magnet in the middle.

ScrambledEggAndToast · 28/11/2014 06:36

Nomama GrinGrin

Love it, not sure I would have the nerve!

Iggly · 28/11/2014 06:45

Nomama that is awesome advice and has made me laugh. Not sure I'd try it as a wuss.

I tend to put my valuables in my pockets - phone, keys and wallet. I get coats with big pockets, inside ones if possible. Am paranoid - but I live and work in London where this happens a lot to friends.

youareallbonkers · 28/11/2014 08:03

Not taken offence, just a bit Hmm about all strangers being out to harm us and us being too stupid to take care of our positions without being told.

maddening · 28/11/2014 08:07

when we were little mum was paying at a till and had lots of bags by a feet as she paid - all stolen from right by her.

Gullygirl · 28/11/2014 09:18

Watch out in supermarkets too.
People sling their bags on the hook in front of the trolley, or the child seat, then turn around to pick thing of the shelves .
If I'm in a cafe, I put my bag handles through the chair leg.

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