Thieves who target shoppers in supermarkets blend in seamlessly. It could be the woman next to you, checking out the broccoli, or the man asking for directions to the spice aisle.
You may not be able to tell by looking at them, but you can be sure that leaving your purse in your shopping cart while you turn away is like putting out the welcome mat for thieves.
A theft ring is targeting shoppers at supermarkets across Southern California, an NBC4 I-Team investigation has found.
Here are a few ways to protect your belongings from being lifted by a thief at a store.
- Keep the strap of your purse either over your shoulder or across your chest and body.
- Keep your purse zipped. An open purse is an open invitation for the wrong hand to reach inside.
- Better yet, ditch the purse. Lock it in the trunk of your car and take only your ID and cash, check or credit card with you. You can slide those into a pocket.
- If you absolutely have to carry a purse, don't ever leave it unattended in your shopping cart. Turning your back for a few seconds may leave you with the stolen wallet woes.
