Turn Out The Lights...The Party's Over

Well, it has been a fabulous month for me. I appreciate everyone who participated, left comments, sent well-wishes and many other random acts of kindness. Thank you so much. Beachy Mimi feels so spoiled!

I was going to have one last Palooza today, but something happened to upset the Beachy House and I'm going to save that giveaway for a later time.

I am a small town girl. Small town as in safe.

I've only been locking my car for a couple of years. I didn't have to.

Recently (yesterday), I traveled to a Large Town to celebrate and do a little shopping/browsing. This Large Town is known for thievery and car break ins.
A good friend has had her car window broken out and her purse stolen twice.

Therefore, I don't leave anything of value in the car...ever. Especially my purse.

Today, I got a new lesson in paying attention to my surroundings.

When I go in a store with a shopping cart, I almost always put my purse in the cart where the small child would sit. I'm right there with it so it is safe...right? Notsomuch.

Today, someone who apparently does this often...was watching for a chance. While a back was turned for a few seconds...someone took the wallet out of the purse.

Peeps, this is a Devastating Thing. Most of us have our whole lives in our wallets.

The theft was not discovered until it was time to pay up at the check-out.

By the time the purse-owner got her husband on the phone (he happened to be on-line), the thieves had made 4 purchases on a credit card. A time-span of maybe 15-30 minutes.

Wow.

The police were called and they came to file a report. The officer said this happens all the time and the thieves work in groups that are very well organized. They know exactly how to steal, get out of the store and use the credit cards (and where they can get away with using them) before the wallet is even missed by the owner.

That's just flat scary.

I learned some hard but very valuable lessons today.

Carry only a purse that zips on top.

Keep it zipped at all times.

Never place your purse in a shopping cart.

Never leave your purse in the car, even if the car is locked.

Don't carry your social security card in your wallet. Identity theft is real.

Bad people may be watching you for an opportunity...pay attention to who and what is around you at all times.

Peeps, I just have a bad feeling that as the economy gets tougher, thieves are going to be more plentiful and bolder to separate you from your belongings.

Be Very Careful.

20 comments:

Unknown said...

Mimi:

I'm first! WOOHOO! It's been a fabulous month. You are very generous. I pray it's been a wonderful birthday month for you. Thanks for sharing.

Thank you for sharing this story. You are so right about being careful and watchful. I think I would just add that sometimes the thiefs look just like your next door neighbor in that they aren't always smarmy looking. Sometimes some real normal innocent looking people are thiefs and will smile right at you and perhaps even conversate with you while they plot how to steal your hard earned money/stuff. Be careful ladies and gents.

a Tonggu Momma said...

Beachy Mimi ~ I am so very sorry this happened to you. We've been robbed... umm... a lot. (I'll post about that some other time.) The feeling of violation never, ever goes away. And I also suspect we will see an increase of crime as the economy falls further. But I'm sorry that happened to you.

Lindsay said...

wow real scary... I will def. keep those things in mind. I have had my car broken into 2 times (both in High School (2 different schools at that)). I agree that I think things are going to get worse before they get better.

Mim said...

Wow, I was just thinking about this yesterday. I walk around all the time with my purse unzipped! No more! I do put my purse in the child seat but I buckle it up through the straps. At least that way they would have to pretty much turn the cart over to get it out.

Edwina at The Picket Fence said...

Isn't is sad to think of how I world is changing and you just cannot relax and enjoy life like we use to. A simple trip to Target or the grocery store, can turn into a nightmare for us. Now more than ever, we all need to be praying for our country.
Edwina

Angela S said...

I am sooooo sorry.

RR Mama said...

I hate that this happened to you. I get so angry at people who do this type of thing and get away with it. I had a friend who had her identity stolen three years ago and she is still dealing with it. I hope it gets better for you and thanks for the tip!

Tammy said...

Well, that certainly is a terrible ending to a perfect birthday month!

Thanks for the month of fun! Have a great weekend BM!

Anonymous said...

The NERVE!

But you're right about desperate times.... it's going to get worse.

Glad it wasn't you - but that hit a little too close to home.

Better safe than sorry. Paranoia pays.

Happy Birthday anyway! Hey - it's still September - are you really done celebrating?

Anonymous said...

How very awful! We have had people steal from us as well. Few on the blogs know that we own and operate our own business. We have had employees steal from us, a Pastor steal from us, a Nanny and her boyfriend . . . people that were trusted. It is certainly sad when you feel that you cannot trust people. We have reached that point - we try to be more attentive. Our home addition and remodel includes a security system for our home (we have one already at the business now) security cameras viewing the outside of our home as well. We live in a normal neighborhood - in a suburb. In addition to this we have a cyber stalker - Why can't people be more like they were in the 50's and 60's - people cared about people.

Anonymous said...

I'm sorry your birthday month ended with a scary and tough situation -- I hope you have a wonderful year in spite of this! And a truly special birthday weekend!

Joan said...

I stopped putting my purse in the cart awhile back, but sometimes you have to set it down. I also use the seat belt straps to strap the purse down, keeping the purse zipped. It's a shame what we've come too. When I was a kid, we never locked our house or our cars.
Better to be safe than sorry.

Thanks for the heads up!

Angie said...

Oh my stars, I'm so sorry! As a small town girl this kind of thing still shocks me. So scary...

Melissa Stover said...

that's just terrible!

thank you for the gift card. got it in the mail today.

Kristi Price said...

We all need to agree in prayer that God will expose this person and that he will be caught. Seriously, I will pray for this every night. This makes me so durn mad! I know exactly how you feel Mimi. I am living at my parent's house right now and they live in what has alway's been a safe and nice neighborhood. But, in the last two years, my son's truck has been broke into twice (breaking the window, dash and stealing his radio) my mom's car was broken into and the worst, my 79 year old stepdad was standing at our mailbox when a guy ran by, knocked him to the ground and stole his wallet which btw had his pension check cash in it. I am so sick of thieves. It is getting really bad in our town, especially people stealing copper.

I am glad you weren't hurt though. Take care! Kristi

Susan said...

I am so sorry that your birthday month ended with such an unfortunate incident.
I think you are right that as the economy continues to get worse, people will become even more brazen in their attempts to steal from those they see as having more.

Christy said...

Thanks Mimi for the advice. I tend to not only put my purse in the cart, but walk away from the cart a good distance. Not anymore. I'm taking my soc sec card out now. Thanks.

Jen said...

I also buckle my purse in when I'm shopping and I try to remember to always have it zipped. I hope that a would-be robber would be deterred and leave me alone. When I was in 5th grade, my mom and I were doing some new year's day shopping at a local mall. My mom was carring a purse and felt something hit it. She turned around and there was a kid my age (10/11ish) with a stocking over his face, trying to take her purse off of her shoulder! You just never know who to expect!

I wanted to wish you a very happy birthday, even though I'm a little late. I hope it was fabulous!

Anonymous said...

I am so very wary of this all the time...I always stick my bag under the infant seat--like shoved under there so tight that someone would have to really struggle to get it out.

My wallet and all of my bridesmaids wallets were stolen from THE CHURCH ON MY WEDDING DAY DURING THE CEREMONY!!! Since then, I have been extremely careful. $3500 was stolen from my bank account because of this. It was an awful way to spend the day the I had dreamed of my entire life to that point. Can you tell I'm still slightly bitter?!

Anyway, enough about me...thank you for the tips. One can never be too careful. Take care BM.

momof2 said...

Oh my! I do this all the time (leave my purse unzipped and exposed in the cart)....I will definently stop doing this though!!! I think it might be a good idea to clean out my wallet and take out anything that isn't an absolute necessity also.