Parking Lot Safety Tip

by Robyn Wright on July 24, 2012

in Living

purse in cart.jpg

A quick tip today for when you are shopping at any store you take your items out in a cart. If you are like me you have your purse in the seat of the cart most of the time. Just like you see I have in this photo above (I did it this time just to take the picture LOL). When you get out in the parking lot to your car be careful not to leave your purse in that area while you walk to your trunk and start putting your bags in. This is an easy target for someone to drive by and grab your purse out of the front of the cart and speed off. This actually happened to my aunt and I have heard of many other stories. I know we like to feel safe in our regular stores around town, but this can happen anywhere in a city of any size. Instead take your purse out of the cart and put it on your shoulder or into the trunk to the side while you load your bags in.

Better safe than sorry. Have you, or someone you know, had this happen?

© 2012, Robyn Wright. All rights reserved.

Tagged as: life, safety, shopping, tips

  • Lauralee Hensley

    We actually had a guy doing this to elderly women about ten years ago.  Mostly in the parking lot of three stores.  One of the elderly women I actually knew.  They did finally catch him though.

  • RoundRockGal

    I need to remind myself (NOT) to do that all the time.  Thanks for the reminder.

  • Lexiquin

    I know better than to do that! However, on more than one occasion, someone has come up to me in the grocery store and cautioned me about turning away from my cart while my purse was in the basket! 

  • Jacqueline Cromwell

    This is so true!!!! Not only did I hear how I shouldn’t do it all the time growing up, I heard a lot of law enforcement complain about how many theft calls they got due to that alone!

  • Swifty

    Never leave your purse on the seat of your cart.  The moment you look away it’s unattended and an easy target.  Just don’t do it at all.

  • http://twitter.com/rkosully Robin

    I really never think about the possibility of somebody stealing my purse inside or outside of the grocery store.  I guess I’m oblivious, assuming it’s a “safe place.” You’re right–better safe than sorry. Thanks for the tip!

  • MargaretAnn Rice

    First thing I do in the store is to click it in to the child belt (but I still watch it as entire cart could be gone); when i get to my car I immediately put seat on floor and relock the car before putting items in trunk.

  • http://Cookerati.com/ Diana

    I don’t carry a big purse.  I have a small purse with a body strap.  I just sling it across and keep it there the whole time. If for some reason, I have something else.  I will put it in the front seat and lock that door to keep it save while putting groceries in. 

    Another way to steal is when you are at the gas station – only unlock the driver’s door, because thieves will take your purse out of the other door while you are pumping gas.

  • Tiffany Winner

    ive heard of a women getting mugged in our grocery store parking lot
    thismomwins@gmail.com

  • Cassie

    it’s a bad habit of mine too! I’ve started to become awareof the fact that I do it, and put my purse in the car first. More important than the groceries!! ( dealbunny20 at gmail dot com)

  • ewffan

    If I am carrying a big purse, I normally fasten it with the child safety belt.  But make sure your purse is zipped.  It wouldn’t matter that they can’t take the whole purse but they can just swipe the wallet.  

    BTW Love your purse!  I have that one too!

  • terrik

    I once put my purse on top of my car while putting groceries in the backseat and someone stole my purse!  I was only about two feet away from it at the time!  That was years ago, I now put my purse on my shoulder while checking out, and I don’t keep my purse in the top of the cart when I shop, I put it in the back in the bottom of the cart w/my reusable bags on top of it.  I’ve seen others use the seat belt like ewffan says, but mine has too many side pockets and pouches.

  • http://www.anutinanutshell.com/ Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell

    No, I’m completely paranoid. I never take my purse off my shoulder. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Devona-Fryer/100000727624936 Devona Fryer

    I used to do that too! I just recently started putting my purse in the car as soon as I come out of the store and then I proceed to the trunk to put the bags away.

  • http://rhymeschemesanddaydreams.wordpress.com Auriette

    My mom taught me years ago never to leave my purse in the cart. I usually keep it on my shoulder unless I’m digging for something. Of course, I have caught myself a couple of times, in the store, setting it down and then turning my back to pick up something heavy, then realizing someone could walk off with it or grab something out of it. Well, not so much the grabbing something out of it, since my purse is a mess, and if they tried to surreptitiously grab my wallet, my keys, pen, notepad, and possibly snacks would fly out. The wallet would probably snag on the edge pulling the whole purse out of the cart and spilling everything everywhere. Maybe having a jam-packed purse is a security devide!

    Anyway, I definitely put my purse in the car first when I’m unloading groceries. Sometimes I put it in the front seat and shut the door, then load from the back. Other times I put the purse in the back, then pick it up before shutting the back door. 

  • http://twitter.com/cstironkat Kelly Ann T.

    I have heard stories too and now I’m diligent about keeping my purse with me. I don’t personally know anyone, but my aunt was carjacked and that was scary.

  • http://southerngirlramblings.com/ Kecia

    When I first get to the store, I put my purse in the front area like yours and put the cart’s child safety belt through my purse’s straps and buckle it. That way it’s attached to my cart, should anyone try to grab it and run. 

    Although I feel that this is safe for in the store, it’s probably a better idea to get my purse out of the cart as soon as I reach the car. Even if it’s buckled in, it still makes a good target for someone driving by my cart in the parking lot.

  • tannawings

    I keep mine where you keep yours inside the store most of the time- and I know for a fact most stores have cameras and there is someone watching so I am not terribly uncomfortable in the store itself. Once I get to the parking lot though I put my purse in the truck first before I load groceries inside (I dont have a trunk LOL!) I do have my cooler for meats and such in the summer in the truck bed. Soon I will worry more about that getting snatched if it is full because with the price of meats going to go up it will be worth more than whats in my purse :P

  • Ravzie

    I never thought about this before.  Thanks for the heads-up.  You never think this sort of thing will happen to you.

  • http://twitter.com/MeHimAndTheCats Diane

    Thats a great idea I see a lot of people commenting about to click it through the child seat belt – Why have I never thought of this? I always make sure I rezip and snap my purse shut before I walk away from the cashier so nothing falls out and no prying eyes get a glimpse of what is inside. 

  • Denise S

    Yes, I always unlock the car and thrown the purse inside first before putting my bags in.  Being aware of who’s nearby is always a good idea too. 

  • http://www.redneckrosie.com/ Rose

    I have always had the habit of using the child safety latches to hook and tangle my purse up with. You really never know when someone is going to attempt to talk past and take a grab at your purse. My niece had her entire diaper bag stolen right out from under her nose.

    • http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World

      My son always thought it was fun to wrap my purse straps up ad hook it into the cart. He was trying to just prank me, but I figure it was extra safety too

  • Lisa C

    I always buckle my purse in with the child straps but even then I still have that “feeling” when my eyes aren’t on it.

  • Shannon Whitfield

    I’ve never known someone that happened to.. that’s terrible! I’m fairly paranoid about my purse and keep it close at hand when we’re out. Sometimes I don’t even take it to the store if my husband is along and driving, so I just have the allotted cash and coupons for groceries (that way I’m not tempted to buy anything else!)

  • Cody Anderson

    I had this exact thing happen to me as well. Luckily there was a police car in the parking lot and the car was stopped. Whenever I carry my purse now, I always strap it in with the child safety buckle.

    • http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World

      That was very lucky to have police there that caught them!

  • http://twitter.com/itsjuststarla Starla Mint

    Whoa. I have never had that happen to anyone I know, but you better believe – I do the exact same thing with my purse. Thanks for the tips, Robyn! It might come in handy to reference this again with the holidays approaching.

    its.a.hit at gmail dot com

    • http://www.RobynsOnlineWorld.com/ Robyn’s Online World

      Yes, with the upcoming holidays there will be much more of things like this happening

  • Veronica Garrett

    You must protect your self and possessions even in the daytime. There was an incident happen in the middle of the day where two guys in a truck tried to grab a woman’s purse.

  • Lynda Del

    I normally leave my pocketbook in the cart as I shop, but I make it a habit to shoulder carry it right before I leave the store to prevent theft.

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