Beware - personal experience with crime!

Please see this link for information on how to help prevent wallet and purse theft: http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/police/p...ips/wallet.htm

Someone grabbed my purse from me Sunday afternoon in broad daylight in a supermarket parking lot.

I'm one of those people that's kind of hyerparanoid about crime. I always keep an eye out for suspicious things, know where my purse is, lock my doors as soon as I get in or out of my car or house. I was leaving the store with a cart of groceries, keys in my hand, and was just about to reach my car when I heard someone running behind me at top speed. All the sudden out of nowhere a guy came tearing up beside me and grabbed my purse and took off running.

I was shocked. I couldn't believe my eyes. For split second I stood there and then started screaming at him. I started to take off after the guy and then realized what a horrible mistake that could be. Families and people all around me heard the commotion. The guy stumbled but made it out of sight. Fortunately a very nice family was there and lent me their cell phone. I called 911. It took about 25 minutes for a policeman to arrive. Luckily, in the meantime, someone recovered quite a bit of my belongings, which the guy apparently tossed. I'm lucky that it wasn't worse - like if he'd brandished a weapon - but it scared me.

Since then I've totally changed what I carry on me. I called the credit bureaus and notified them. I've changed my banking info. Please be careful and consider my experience as a lesson you can learn without going through it yourself - be careful especially when you're out and about on your own!

I am sorry this happened to you. I always try to remember to put my car keys in my pocket, not in my bag. It would be terrible for them to have your car keys and house keys.

I want to carry a gun on me, but if i shot the guy, they would arrest me and the theif would sue me and nothing would happen to him.

I am so sorry that happened to you.....Prayer sent your way to nothing else...

Wow! That really stinks. I am glad he did not hurt you.

Walking home from the bars one night, my now ex and I were fighting and walked ahead of me so basically I was walking alone. Some guy came out from behind a sign and starting coming towards me, so I pulled out my cell phone and pretended I was talking on it. Then another guy came out from the other side of the street towards me too. I ran home across a busy street and managed to lose them in the woods behind my complex. Turns out, about an hour later several people were robbed at gunpoint right on the same street. This does not happen here. (I broke up the next day, of course, with my ex--not just cause of this though).

So I know how you feel. I've had other similar stuff and other worse stuff happen to me. It's okay to be scared and if anyone tells you otherwise, don't bother talking to them about it.

I never carry more than 20$ and never carry my checkbook anywhere. Everything else is replaceable and turn-off-able (cell, credit cards, etc). Keys go in the pocket. Never take your soc card or birth certificate anywhere, and if your liscense has your soc# on it have it taken off.

Good advice Joanne. Thanks for the reminder! I hope you're doing okay.