After finding a great designer handbag, the last thing any woman wants is to lose it to a purse snatcher. Not to mention the grief of identity theft, losing valuables, closing credit card and checking accounts, changing the locks on your doors, going to DMV for a new I.D., and spending months or years worrying when something that was stolen from you is going to be used against you. Here are some valuable tips to protect not only your valuable bag, but yourself as well.
Leave your purse at home when it’s not necessary. On short outings, carry necessary items like ID and money in a wallet, kept safely in your pocket.
Bring only what you need. Don’t carry any more cash or credit cards than you need to do your shopping that day. Decide even before leaving the house whether the contents of your purse are worth getting hurt for.
Walk in busy, well-lit areas. Purse snatchers are more likely to strike in dark, isolated areas because they don’t want to get caught. Walk briskly and confidently. Bring a friend.
Be aware of the area and the people, especially if you find yourself having to walk in an isolated or lightly populated area. Don’t be distracted from your surroundings by an mp3 player or conversation on a cell phone. Remember that most purse snatchers strike from behind the victim.
Hold your purse tightly and close to your body, whether on a bus, train, or walking. If possible, wear it underneath a coat or jacket. Also, secure the latch or zipper.
Shorten the strap on your purse so you can carry it tightly between your elbow and body.
Remember that you come before your purse. If someone pulls it away from your hands or your shoulder, let it go! It is more important to avoid injury than save a purse. Never fight to keep it.
Report anything suspicious. If you suspect that something is wrong, contact security if you are in a mall, or contact the manager if you are in a supermarket. Better to report your suspicions and be wrong, than to ignore it and be robbed or hurt.
Don’t leave your purse in your shopping cart or on a counter, even for a moment. Don’t hang your bag on a stroller. And don’t leave your purse or bag unattended on the chair or table beside you in a restaurant or library.
Photocopy important documents. Copy both sides of the important contents of your purse (credit cards, driver’s license, etc.) and store the copy in a safe place at home. Should your purse or wallet get stolen, you’ll have a record of your account numbers and whom to notify about them.