azcrafty
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,897
Jun 28, 2019 20:24:21 GMT
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Post by azcrafty on Jul 23, 2024 22:33:10 GMT
Hello Peas!
This post is about a warning. I hope its okay to share this if its not I will remove it. Two of my dear friends who are elderly got robbed in HL. They both got distracted by a woman talking to them and a second person walks by and takes the valet out of the purse that they had in their cart.
I know that I enjoy talking to people at the craft stores and happy to help someone if I can. I think they targeting these stores because of it. So please just be careful and protect your belongings.
I'm in Phoenix , AZ. One happened at the Mayo Blvd. and the other at the Arrowhead HL.
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FurryP
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Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Jul 24, 2024 0:46:53 GMT
Thanks for sharing. I hate it when I see women putting their purse in the cart and sometimes even walk away from it. But I hate it even more when people take advantage of others and steal from them. I am sorry this happened to your friends. I generally have a crossbody bag when I am shopping. But it is still a good reminder to beware of anyone that gets too close.
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Post by kmage on Jul 24, 2024 0:57:52 GMT
Oh no! Thank you for the warning-that is awful that they were targeted. What a way to turn a fun outing into a terrible time. ((((hugs)))) to them.
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Post by ScrapbookMyLife on Jul 24, 2024 2:56:40 GMT
That is awful.
This can happen anywhere.
I keep my zippered purse with me at all times. If my purse is in the seat area of the cart, the long strap is wrapped around my wrist. I keep both my money wallet and my id & card holder, in the inside zippered pocket. I don't like strangers in my personal space-standing too close to me....so anyone approaching or hovering would immediately put me on alert. I never leave my purse unattended. Because I have been stalked (many years ago) by my ex-husband.....I tend to always be "on alert" and I try to look out for the other ladies around me as well....especially in parking lots.
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anniebeth24
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,678
Jun 26, 2014 14:12:17 GMT
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Post by anniebeth24 on Jul 24, 2024 12:57:48 GMT
Good reminder. I know I would be very willing to offer help to someone at a craft or fabric store. There's often people who look like lost souls, and it's one place where I have some expertise!
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Post by chrissyc72 on Jul 24, 2024 16:25:05 GMT
This is why I have a cross body bag. Thanks for the heads up!
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pantsonfire
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Jun 19, 2022 16:48:04 GMT
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Post by pantsonfire on Jul 24, 2024 16:59:30 GMT
This happens everywhere. And that is why PD services say to never leave your purse in the cart, especially opened. Those cute little backpacks are the same. Easy to open and grab stuff. Cross body purses are best.
Sorry it happened.
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Post by workingclassdog on Jul 24, 2024 21:23:09 GMT
It happens everyday all the time.. so sorry this happened to your friends. I usually wear a crossbody bag or at least have my hands on the handle of my purse. I can on occasion forget, but that is totally on me being stupid.
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 24, 2024 22:04:28 GMT
Yikes! I have an issue with not touching my purse when I am away from home. Even in the vehicle, I make sure to only have my door unlocked so no one can open the other front door.
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Post by joblackford on Jul 25, 2024 0:26:14 GMT
This is also a good reminder to watch out for other people in the store who might be targeted and maybe warn them. A lot of people let their guard down when they’re in a familiar happy place and unfortunately people who steal have a great sense of who to target and how to distract them. We can all look out for this happening to other people around us. Thanks for the heads up.
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calipea
Shy Member
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Aug 28, 2014 23:13:11 GMT
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Post by calipea on Jul 25, 2024 23:36:01 GMT
I have my license and very few other cards (Target/debit card) on my phone. My phone is in my hand, my bra lol, my pant pocket (covered by shirt) when I shop. I am hypervigilant/paranoid about thieves because they are so brazen and so fast. I tell people, imagine you're in the NY subway, the Paris metro or in Rome. You are a target. Had to remind daughter to never hang her purse over the back of a chair at a restaurant. The remote key replacements alone cost hundreds if they take your entire bag. The distraction route or quick move is so common. Unfortunately, some people react negatively when I used to point out the dangers of putting your purse into your cart and turning away from it.
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PaperAngel
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Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Jul 26, 2024 0:28:22 GMT
Given the (misleading) thread title, I was hoping this was an eyewitness report that HL (& wishfully the other big box craft stores) no longer exclusively carried its house brand knockoffs & name brand supplies are back on its shelves. Unfortunately, theft happens everywhere (in Phoenix, AZ, & around the world). Glad no one was (physically) injured, & may this anecdote be a sad reminder to every reader that we must be vigilant everywhere.
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Post by melanell on Jul 26, 2024 1:42:36 GMT
I'm sorry this happened.
I stopped carrying purses around with me, because I recognized years and years ago that I am just not good with keeping track of them. I dislike carrying them, and therefore was far too likely to set them down.
After 3 separate occasions of leaving my purse behind, I decided I had been outrageously lucky up until that point (once I went back and found the purse right where I left it, and twice someone else found it and turned it in) and I certainly could not count on that luck continuing.
So when I shop I always have whatever card/cash I need in a secure pocket of some garment I will definitely not be removing (so not a jacket, for example).
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scrapnnana
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Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
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Post by scrapnnana on Jul 26, 2024 15:29:32 GMT
Thanks for the heads up. I’m pretty careful, but it is a bit of a shock that it is happening even at the fabric store. I use a backpack, because the crossbody bag isn’t big enough for what I need to carry (medication, epi pen, etc.), but I can remove my backpack and clasp it tightly in front of me.
It drives me crazy when I see women leave their purses in their shopping cart and turn their back to the cart. I often say something, but some people seem to be annoyed if I do. People are often too trusting.
My DH was at a gym, and turned away from his locker to comb his hair for just a minute. A thief came between him and the locker, grabbed DH’s wallet, and was gone before DH even realized what happened. A thief is usually fast. It was a huge headache to cancel and replace our debit/credit cards.
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Post by woodysbetty on Jul 26, 2024 16:49:23 GMT
How incredibly sad....
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Elsabelle
Pearl Clutcher
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Jun 26, 2014 2:04:55 GMT
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Post by Elsabelle on Jul 26, 2024 16:52:44 GMT
A good reminder. This can happen anywhere. Also, people who target the elderly are disgusting.
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FurryP
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Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Jul 27, 2024 17:46:08 GMT
My DH was at a gym, and turned away from his locker to comb his hair for just a minute. A thief came between him and the locker, grabbed DH’s wallet, and was gone before DH even realized what happened. A thief is usually fast. It was a huge headache to cancel and replace our debit/credit cards. Wow. Thanks for sharing that. The more we know, the more we can try to avoid it. Sorry it happened.
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 28, 2024 15:55:29 GMT
I no longer carry a purse. I have a wallet on a cross body strap. It also have a phone case and earbud holder. This way it's always on my body when I'm out and about. Truthfully, I used to carry a bunch of crap in my purse that I never really needed anyway.
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artbabe
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,332
Jun 26, 2014 1:59:10 GMT
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Post by artbabe on Jul 28, 2024 16:33:28 GMT
I'm always a bit concerned with crossbody stuff. I knew someone who had a crossbody purse in France and someone in some kind of 2 wheeled motor vehicle grabbed her purse, trying to steal it. The strap didn't immediately break so she was yanked off of her feet and smashed her head on the pavement. She had serious brain injuries that affected the rest of her life.
I'd rather someone steal my purse than give me serious injuries. I still do put my purse crossbody sometimes but I always think of that.
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Post by katlady on Jul 29, 2024 16:14:44 GMT
I am sorry that happened to them.
One time I walked by a shopping cart that had a purse sitting in the child seat, fully open, with the wallet on top. It would be so easy for a fast thief to grab the wallet and run, even with the customer right there.
I always keep my purse on my shoulder. One thing I read is to keep the purse open and if someone tries to grab it, turn it upside down so everything spills out. One of my purses is a bucket-like purse, with no top closure, so that one would be easy to do this trick if I had to. But I don't do it on my smaller purses because I am afraid something will fall out.
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Post by lanena on Jul 29, 2024 17:21:20 GMT
I always keep my purse on my shoulder. One thing I read is to keep the purse open and if someone tries to grab it, turn it upside down so everything spills out. One of my purses is a bucket-like purse, with no top closure, so that one would be easy to do this trick if I had to. But I don't do it on my smaller purses because I am afraid something will fall out. I'm trying to figure out how this prevents the thief from taking your wallet. Is it just meant to cause a distraction?
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Post by katlady on Jul 29, 2024 17:31:58 GMT
I always keep my purse on my shoulder. One thing I read is to keep the purse open and if someone tries to grab it, turn it upside down so everything spills out. One of my purses is a bucket-like purse, with no top closure, so that one would be easy to do this trick if I had to. But I don't do it on my smaller purses because I am afraid something will fall out. I'm trying to figure out how this prevents the thief from taking your wallet. Is it just meant to cause a distraction? If your wallet and stuff falls out, chances are the thief is not going to stay around to try to pick up everything from the ground.
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Post by 950nancy on Jul 29, 2024 17:53:24 GMT
I'm always a bit concerned with crossbody stuff. I knew someone who had a crossbody purse in France and someone in some kind of 2 wheeled motor vehicle grabbed her purse, trying to steal it. The strap didn't immediately break so she was yanked off of her feet and smashed her head on the pavement. She had serious brain injuries that affected the rest of her life. I'd rather someone steal my purse than give me serious injuries. I still do put my purse crossbody sometimes but I always think of that. I think anything can happen anywhere, but I'll take my chances that someone would rather take an easy grab than one that is more secure on their body. When we were in France, I was on high alert and kept our money and passports inside my clothes. France certainly has a reputation for thieves.
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