Speed Dating Events

Never leave your wallet unattended, and other ways to avoid getting robbed

Have you left your purse in the cart at the grocery store and walked a little further down the aisle to get some hamburger meat? In the middle of a sales transaction, have you left your wallet on the counter while you bent over to deal with your fussy baby in the stroller beside you? Don’t do that!

Always keep your purse with you. Many victims are amazed at how quickly their valuables were stolen: “I only looked away for a minute . .” “My purse was right next to me a second ago.” If you have to look away or bend over to get something, take your purse in your hand while you do it.

Running Errands

I remember the first trip to the mall with my new baby. I was so preoccupied with getting him in the car seat, the stroller folded

Up and put in the back, and my packages into the car that I drove away with both of my back doors wide open. Needless to say, any psycho could have jumped into my back seat. Don’t let the tasks at hand distract you from being aware. Do one thing at a time, quickly and efficiently. If you are at a grocery store, always have the bag person help you out. If you have little ones with you, the more adult helping hands, the better.

Don’t Handcuff Yourself with Your Packages

When walking to your car after shopping, be alert! If you have too many packages, don’t try to carry them all yourself. A thief loves a target with their wrists tied up in the handles of their bags, unable to fight as the purse is ripped from their hands. Put your packages in a cart or ask a security guard to help you to your car.

A Purse Must Do More Than Match Your Shoes

Okay, there are times when your purse can be a fashion statement. If you are going to a formal event or party, the sensible purse can stay at home. But when you are going about your daily life, you really should have a purse that is efficient and hard to rip off your body. For example, those darling backpacks or purses with the little strings are cute, but not very secure. A thief can easily cut the straps without you even noticing, then disappear into a crowd. The best purses I have seen are the ones that fit across your body diagonally. Your wallet is in front of your body and easy for you to get to. The thick strap is hard to cut. Remember: Never play tug-of-war with someone who is trying to steal your purse. Avoid injury. Let it go and then scream for the police.

Says one of my clients, “I was driving with my oldest son and witnessed a young punk ride by on his bike and yank an elderly woman’s purse from her shoulder. The strap broke right off. A good Samaritan in front of me saw this happen and quickly blocked the criminal with her car. The police arrived shortly thereafter, and the woman got her purse back. What struck me was how quickly the whole event occurred and how easily those little purse straps can break. It was also a good lesson for my son to see the punk taken away in handcuffs. Crime doesn’t pay.”

Don’t Show Your Hand

If you carry your money in your pocket, keep it in your front pants pocket. It’s harder for pickpockets to get to without you noticing. Avoid flashing your money in plain view. Be discreet. A big wad is tempting for any thief, and turns you into a target.

The Best Defense Is Not to Play at All

The best way to avoid getting ripped off is to take away the opportunity. This means: Do not leave items in your car. Do not leave your car unlocked, even in your own driveway. A friend of mine lives on a very private cul-de-sac. She left her purse in the car and the doors unlocked every day for a year. One morning she came out of the house to find her purse dumped on the side of her driveway, her wallet and PDA gone. Money and other items were stolen out of her car. So much for the safe, quiet neighborhood. Remember: Crime happens everywhere!

If the Worst Happens, Work Fast!

The second you realize that you have been robbed, move into action. First, call the police and file a report. Immediately cancel your credit cards. Experts say that thieves have approximately a two-hour window to use your cards before they are reported stolen or lost. The sooner you contact the credit card companies, the less damage the criminal can do. The law states that if you report the card stolen before the thief uses it, you cannot be responsible for any unauthorized charges. If you do not report the loss in time, the most you will be responsible for is $50 per card—even if the thief uses your ATM to get cash. Make an itemized list of everything that is missing— credit card numbers, your driver’s license number, and any items with their monetary value attached. This helps the police with their report and makes it easier to file a claim with your insurance company.

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