NWR: Purse Snatchers!

I've never had this happen to me but walking today and I was carrying my purse by the handles in my left hand (the handles are not long enough to go over my shoulder) and as I was walking I felt a hand, a palm of a hand which was what concerned me, shove my left hand. It was done so hard that it prompted me to check my engagement ring, as well if anything was put/dropped on or in my purse. I whipped around and just saw a bunch of people continue walking, and I did see the man who brushed by me, but he continued walking like nothing happened either.

At first, I thought it may have been an accident, but then I thought, why would I feel the palm of the hand? Most accidents people hit into you, it's not that small of contact, they practically ram into you.

Has anyone had this happen? I had a good grip on my purse, so it just got knocked around and not out of my hand but the whole thing left me quite uneasy.

I work in some pretty questionable areas a lot of the time and I am always so aware of my pocketbook and my e-ring. In fact, in most cases I either turn my ring so that the diamond faces my palm and I keep my palm in a fist or I leave it home or at the office.

I worker on wall street for about 6 weeks one summer on an internship. My dad taught me to be very aware of my surroundings. Therefore, I NEVER carry a backpack and when I carry a shoulder bag I hold it close to my chest.

BE CAREFUL OUT THERE...there are plenty of wackos around!!!

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Posted by MissingTheBGene

I've never had this happen to me but walking today and I was carrying my purse by the handles in my left hand (the handles are not long enough to go over my shoulder) and as I was walking I felt a hand, a palm of a hand which was what concerned me, shove my left hand. It was done so hard that it prompted me to check my engagement ring, as well if anything was put/dropped on or in my purse. I whipped around and just saw a bunch of people continue walking, and I did see the man who brushed by me, but he continued walking like nothing happened either.

At first, I thought it may have been an accident, but then I thought, why would I feel the palm of the hand? Most accidents people hit into you, it's not that small of contact, they practically ram into you.

Has anyone had this happen? I had a good grip on my purse, so it just got knocked around and not out of my hand but the whole thing left me quite uneasy.

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This has never happened to me but I did see a woman have her necklace snatched while on the subway train last year - #4 train in midtown. She was seated in the 'sucker seat' righ tby the doors. The person snatched it from her neck as the doors closed and get this - there were police officers on the train!!!

This kind of thing can happen anywhere and EVERYONE can be suspicious.

The holidays are coming - the big pick pocket time of year. A good friend had her wallet stolen last July at a local wall street area restaurant. She sat down with friends at a buffet place and a young couple sat down beside them.

My friend had her wallet up on the table beside her tray of food. The couple sat down for a few minutes and just talked (they did not get up to go get any food). They left shortly after.

When my friend got up to leave about 20 minutes later she realized her wallet was gone!!!!! The couple (young White couple) only sat down beside her to steal her wallet. They obviously waited until she was deep into whatever conversation and just took it.

Another good friend caught a woman going into her purse on the 6 subway train just before last Mother's Day. My friend had her CD player on and her eyes closed with her bag strapped to her shoulder. The woman was actually trying to unzip her bag w/o my friend waking up....but she was not asleep she just had her eyes closed. My friend jumped up and nearly beat this woman on the train - but the woman ran off the train at the next stop.

I wrote all that to say - be careful.

i was shopping with my mom and we were in a shopping center parking lot in massapequa. we were waiting at a light to leave the lot. well there was a woman walking and a guy pulls up near her with his car and sticks his arm out and grabbed her purse. We followed his car and cal the cops and gave the license plate f the car. we stopped at a light right next to him..he did realize that we saw him..he was rummaging through the purse. The cops got the motha effer!!!

Def scary

One time, I got off the E train coming from Queens and there was this real shady looking guy standing off to the side. He was dressed in business atire, but he looked like he was looking for trouble. I kept watching him and he walked behind me. So on the escalator, I put my bag in front of me (I had a small messenger-like bag).

Well, walking up the steps to get out of the station, my bag was at my side. Then I felt it twisting behind me, so I went to swing it back in front of me, and I hit this guy. And I turned around and it was HIM! I looked down and I saw that my bag was open! Thankfully, nothing was stolen because I keep my wallet in the main compartment, and he only opened the front flap which houses my Metro Card. But even so, I would have been out a $70 Metro Card.

Now when I buy bags, I use this tip: can anyone slip their hand into your bag? If it goes too low under my arm, I don't buy it. If it is a hand bag, I zipper all of the compartnemts and I don't hold it in my hand, but on my arm as much as possible.

They also say to make a copy of every thing in your wallet, so that you can cancel everything at a moments notice. I don't carry that much cash on me. And, I always say, they can take my credit cards, they will be the ones feeling stupid when they go to buy something and it's DENIED

akamrst. is absolutely right...it can happen any where at any time, and anyONE can be the perp...

people always wonder why I walk hard and fast and with a 'mean' face...they say I don't look aproachable and I say, DAMN STRAIGHT...I'm NOT! I just try to give as little reason as possible for anyone to even want to try...

but all of the those bag tips are great...zips are definitely better than those little clips.

perps know what to look for (and believe it or not, they actually 'profile' victims...if you look lost, not paying attention, and 'easy' target)

especially in this holiday season, be aware and be safe.

when I lived in the city and walked to work every morning- I often thought about this

I alwasys carry the kind of bag that some one would want to steel- then bag is worth more then what I have in side- I never have more the $100 cash on me- and that's only for one day when I get paid

I used to carry my bag on my arm with my other hand holding it

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Posted by Beth1210

when I lived in the city and walked to work every morning- I often thought about this

I alwasys carry the kind of bag that some one would want to steel- then bag is worth more then what I have in side- I never have more the $100 cash on me- and that's only for one day when I get paid

I used to carry my bag on my arm with my other hand holding it

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this is the second reason I don't carry an expensive bag....I am already a woman, why give myself another reason to be a mark.

I had my purse stolen by a guy riding on a bicycle past me. As he rode by, he grabbed the purse strap (it was over my shoulder) and he kept riding. I didn't even realize what was happening to me and I instinctively grabbed the strap so it wouldn't fall off. Because he kept riding, I was pulled and fell to the ground BREAKING MY ARM!!!

At this point I realized what was happening and actually thought if I held on long enough he would give up. But he kept trying to ride away and dragged me halfway across the street. Then I began to realize that my arm hurt and I let go. He got my bag.

Some passengers driving by in a car saw what was happening and chased the guy. He turned down an alley, fell off the bike and started running. They brought the bike back to me thinking he had stolen my bike! But he still had my bag and I had to get all new ID cards.