Purses In Grocery Cart . . .

[Rustward]

Why do so many women put their purses in the kiddie carrier part of the shopping cart? Do they realize how easy that makes it for the grab-and-go thief? Every now and then we hear that someone's purse was taken. Seems like most retailers have policies that keep employees from intervening. I doubt that local police are going to spend much time on this kind of crime beyond taking a report especially if there is no injury, but don't know for sure and certainly don't want to find out.

I was in the grocery store yesterday and made a point of looking for this. It seems that over half of women do this. Most do occasionally turn away from the cart, too. A purse would be safer in the bottom of the basket, preferably with the strap tied to the cart. Even better with a bunch of groceries on top of it.

Just wonderin.

[Sue J]

I see this all the time. Women leave their purses in the cart and walk away. One time I stood next to this woman's cart until she came back so that no one grabbed anything. She had her purse unzipped and her coupon holder sticking out and right next to the coupons was her WALLET! She came back and I said that I waited until she came back and she says, "Yeah, I know I should know better, especially since I had my wallet taken last year."

Some people work at being stupid.

I think most people are honest. Then there are some folks that all it takes for them to do something dishonest is a blatant opportunity. When you leave your purse in the cart and walk away from it you are expecting everyone nearby to be honest 100% of the time. The world just isn't like that.

[powerplay]

I am one of the those guilty of putting my purse in the shopping cart. It helps if the belt used to hold a child in the cart is looped through the purse strap so that no one can grab it and run, but does not help someone grabbing a wallet and credit cards that are peeeking out the opening. It's a hard habit to break as there is no other natural or reasonable place to put the purse when shopping. I've been in a Walmart store where an employee came up to me and requested that I loop the belt through the purse handle for better security. I think it would be good if the store's employees would remind women of these issues, but haven't seen anyone pay attention for a number of years.

[FIREd]

I see it a lot as well (MIL does it constantly). It looks like women who do this keep looking through their purse for coupons, grocery lists, cell phones, and what have you. So I guess having the purse sitting in front of them makes it more convenient. We live in a fairly safe part of town and I think many people would be absolutely shocked if a thief attempted to grab someone's purse in the middle of a store.

[bbbamI]

I keep my purse up there for convenience as well. Not the right thing to do I suppose...but most times I wear my police shirt, just in case...

No one has wanted to tangle with me yet.

[Lisa99]

I was guilty of this until I had my purse stolen out of the cart in the parking lot.

Purse now stays firmly on my shoulder throughout the shopping trip.

[Sarah in SC]

Wait, don't you women have shoulder straps for your bag? That's what I use (see below for my Eagle Creek "purse"). Why would you put your bag in the cart?
Did I miss the fashion bus yet again?

[Lisa99]

Yes mine always has a shoulder strap. But it's how my mom shopped so I guess I learned it from her.

It still feels a bit odd carrying my purse on my shoulder in the grocery store, but it's not going back into the cart!

[Alan]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa99 I was guilty of this until I had my purse stolen out of the cart in the parking lot. Purse now stays firmly on my shoulder throughout the shopping trip.

That happened to my sister as well. She was unloading the groceries into the car when a young lad on a bike grabbed it as he rode past and she didn't even notice what he'd done until he was well away.

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sarah in SC Wait, don't you women have shoulder straps for your bag? That's what I use (see below for my Eagle Creek "purse"). Why would you put your bag in the cart? Did I miss the fashion bus yet again?

I always buy purses with shoulder straps too. However I make one trip a week to the grocery store, so I'm not gonna fuss with my purse on my shoulder or around my neck for an hour and a half. I also mark things off my list and check my coupons. Having it in front of me is more convenient.

[Westernskies]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI ...but most times I wear my police shirt, just in case...

this thread is USELESS without pics..

[bbbamI]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisa99 I was guilty of this until I had my purse stolen out of the cart in the parking lot. Purse now stays firmly on my shoulder throughout the shopping trip.

Just a suggestion..if you put your groceries in the trunk of the car, place your purse in there first. (Of course make sure you have the keys in your pocket.) Then unload your cart.

If someone is bold enough to take your purse from the trunk, they would be bold enough to grab it from your body. This way if they take it from your trunk, you are less likely to be hurt.

[HFWR]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI I keep my purse up there for convenience as well. Not the right thing to do I suppose...but most times I wear my police shirt, just in case... No one has wanted to tangle with me yet.

But do you wear your police pants?

[Bestwifeever]

I have always kept my purse over my shoulder at the grocery store, unless I just take a wallet and then keep that in my pocket.

When we went out to eat, I used to hang my shoulderbag over the back of my chair until someone stole it one night. Now I keep it on the icky floor between my feet when we go out.

[rescueme]

DW works; I do the grocery shopping. I always carry mine under my arm, since I never use one with straps...

[mountaintosea]

I have been telling women for years to get rid of that darn purse! Free yourself! I felt funny at first not carrying one. I figured out how to get along without all the stuff that I carried around. But the added benefit was that when I went on a date, the guy didn't ask to put his stuff (whatever) in my purse, which I would do but resented. Also being a public defender I learned most thefts are crimes of opportunity. If they don't see you have a purse they won't think about trying to take anything from you. Purses are easy targets. I have a cloth coin purse that fits into a pocket. I keep everything in it. My friends always agree with me but think they HAVE to carry all this stuff around with them. Buy clothes with pockets!

[HFWR]

No one has ever tried to steal my purse...

[FinanceDude]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbbamI No one has wanted to tangle with me yet.

[Nova]

Gave up purses a long time ago. Most pants/shorts/skorts, etc. have at least two pockets. DL and CC go in one, folding money in the other. Most have front and back pockets and some even have cargo pockets. Keys go in a front pocket or in with the cash. Cell phone goes on waist band. If I wear a dress, it gets complicated...but DH can be relied on for CC and cash and if he's with me, I don't really need anything else. The "list" is on a spiral which has a pen through the spiral and coupons are attached to the list. I put my list in the car when I leave home, and I confess, I do leave it in the child seat when I'm shopping. Never heard of anyone taking a list.

Once you get used to this method, purses are just not necessary. BTW, all of this evolved after ER.

[calmloki]

My gal not only leaves her purse in the cart but often leaves it on the floor and can be several rows away if she is busy shopping. Now and again I'll see her purse being all lonely and orphan-like and I'll spirit it away. Never gets the desired shock and dismay reaction.

She favors small Coach purses and as often as not there will be actual money hanging out of the front slit pocket. She also likes to carry a bit of cash - like $800 or more, but it's ok - she likes hundreds and hides the small folded over wad in a different part of her wallet.

While it sounds like she's doing a female version of Richie Rich she rarely spends more than a couple hundred a year on clothes for herself - if that. She could lose a purse a year and she'd still be cheap to keep. She does like to be prepared for anything though - if she has to fly to her Mom she wants to be prepared to maintain herself for a while - we still aren't entirely on board with the plastic money culture - very few people refuse cash..

In the 34 years we've been together I've lost more money than her. Life just isn't fair.