Leaving bags unattended in London

[DyslexicPoster]

I was a child during the IRA bombings in London. It was always drilled me that you notice bags left unattended. As far as I was aware this hasn't changed and its standard to report unattended bags.

Yet today a woman sat next to me a fast food place, then disappeared leaving her shopping and handbag. I wondered if she had gone to the loo but who leaves their handbag in London on a seat? She had no food on her table either so not like she was caught short mid cup of tea.

I got up to look for her, she was totally out of sight for about two mintes so I left with my kid and told the security gaurd. I'm 99.99% sure she went to the loo. But seriously who leaves their handbag unattended? Totally out of your line of sight for more them mere seconds?

I just didn't feel safe left next to the bags 1) anyone could nick it and suspicion would fall to me 2) I had more than a fleeting flashback to my childhood and bombs.

Are Londoners really this trusting of fellow Londoners with their handbags?

I'm a Londoner and that's weird behaviour. London's very safe but I would never leave bags unattended for more than a few seconds.

They never used to be. I was always the (justifiably) paranoid Londoner-by-adoption reporting unattended bags in overseas airports.

I was on the tube a few months ago and noticed an unattended plastic bag on the seat. The carriage was quite full with a few people standing. A man got on at the next stop, noticed said bag. Picked it up and held it up asking if it belonged to anyone. No one claimed it, so he sat down in the seat with the bag on his lap! Then took it with him when he got off. No one batted an eyelid.

you did the right thing!

I’m not necessarily afraid of bombings with an unattended bag - more the accusation of theft when someone else takes it whilst the owner is away & you’re sat nearby when the owner returns. it’s hassle you shouldn’t have to deal with.

it’s also the reason why security and lost property exists in those locations. increases the chances they will be reunited with their bag.

I reported a stack of abandoned bags in Victoria coach station. I'd seen the women go away and leave them, it had been at least half an hour and two women, so one of them should have stayed. I felt really uncomfortable reporting but still thought it was the right thing to do.
As I was leaving on my coach, I saw them come and load up the bags on a trolley and cart them off. I felt very weird about the whole thing.
Not a single other person seemed to be taking any notice of any of it.

Yeah you did the right thing

She was an idiot to do that in central London but you also need to work on your paranoia.

You did the right thing. It is a bomb risk, true, and should always be reported. And it's very certainly a theft risk!

I understand you are triggered by your childhood experiences OP, but there is a terrorist threat right now. The UK Terrorism Threat Level is 'substantial' meaning an attack is considered likely. I have heard the unattended baggage warning announcement at train stations and airports for the last few decades.

She was daft to leave an unattended bags and you did the right thing IMO

It's not paranoia. It is drilled into Londoners - see it, say it, sort it. Report any unattended bags. Do not leave your belongings unattended.

Because bombings have happened and people have died. The odds of any one bag being a bomb is very small. Butthe consequences of being wrong about that one in a million are catastrophic.

Thus the constant announcements on buses and in train stations.

Of course you did the right thing, suprised that anyone would leave their stuff unattended for that long. It's drilled into us to "see it, say it, sort it" so I would have felt very odd not saying anything. I don't think you were paranoid at all.

Are Londoners really this trusting of fellow Londoners with their handbags?

She wasn't necessarily a Londoner. Maybe someone visiting who hadn't checked what is NFL. This kind of thing was totally normal when I lived in Singapore. People would up and leave their laptop and iPhone out on the table in a shopping mall restaurant and wander off to the toilet. Totally safe there, not so much here.

Good information on the subject.

Good information on the subject.

I work for the Tube. We get stupid people leaving bags all over the place. I heard of one woman who hid her suitcase by the side of an escalator in a West End station and went shopping. Staff do security checks hourly, so the case was found and because it was hidden (and therefore deemed sus) the station was closed and the emergency services were contacted. Later that day the woman returned, and on not finding her case where she left it, complained to staff. The station supervisor was called over and he took her to one side to say the station had to be closed so that the Bomb Squad could blow it up. She was horrified!

We have people who ask us to keep their stuff for them all the time, often saying, "Do I look like a terrorist?" Well I dunno, I think, what does a terrorist look like? We always say no. Even the left luggage people at the big NR stations scan everything now.

So no, it's not acceptable to leave your stuff unattended at any time, everyone who lives in London (and most visitors) know this. It's just the stupid uninformed ones.

I would also have reported, but I was brought up in 80s Belfast...

I wouldn’t do that either. The only places in the world I have seen people do that is the ultra safe countries so the Middle East (generally no bag snatches) or Singapore. And they have no idea how the world outside of there is!

Are Londoners really this trusting of fellow Londoners with their handbags?

Seriously? 🙄🙄

One woman does something weird and you're asking if all of us Londoners are this trusting of fellow Londoners?

As an aside, how did she know everyone else in there was a Londoner anyway?

The security gaurd I told jumped straight up and said thank you as he was already on his way to the bags. The only place I'd feel safe leaving my bags is if a friend had stayed with them. In a daft moment I might leave my shopping bag but never my handbag. I don't think it's paranoid. Being minutes late to a bombing in Victoria Station or on the tube behind the London bombings the day after it was announced London would host the Olympics. These things never leave you. However much you wish they would. Plus the fear it's some new scam where your accused of stealing something. As soon as I stood up and walked about looking for the bags owners I had the feeling it wasn't right. If I left my handbag, I'd expect it to be stolen in London. Its somewhere I navigate with my wits about me. I feel totally safe in London being born and studying a central uni. but I'm always aware of my surroundings.

We have people who ask us to keep their stuff for them all the time, often saying, "Do I look like a terrorist?" Well I dunno, I think, what does a terrorist look like?

DM (white haired old lady) was very annoyed at being checked by security several times when she visited from Australia - demanding exactly the same thing. No mum, that's pretty much the point - terrorists come in all shapes and sizes, even white haired old ladies.

He was probably just keeping it safe and going to hand it in when he got off. I would have done the same. Should he have just left it there like all the other people turning a blind eye?

I would assume she’s not a Londoner. I’d never do that, anywhere.

It's fine to report it, but as someone from NI you're overblowing the IRA bomb risk to London.

I just think people are more dopey these days, very wrapped up in themselves and less aware of their surroundings. If I was a pickpocket, I’d have a field day. Also I guess it has been a while since the IRA were active in London.

Do people really think there's only a risk of terrorism in London? Have people forgotten the atrocity in Manchester?