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Look after your handbag! |
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Since the beginning of July this year there have been 10 thefts of handbags where the handbag has been left on a shopping trolley in or near a supermarket. On a couple of occasions the owner had been loading up the car with the shopping, at other times, the bag had been left on the trolley while the owner wandered off to look the shopping or pulled their own trolley behind them as they walked home.
In the same period there have been 6 offences where handbags have been stolen from buggies or prams. The handbags had either been left on the top of the buggy or hung over the handle by the strap. On these occasions the owners had either been in shops, parks or at bus stops, then distracted for a couple of minutes either by their children or shopping and suddenly noticed the bag missing.
Finally, 24 handbags have been stolen from cars in the same period. Astonishingly 11 of theses have been in circumstances where the handbag or in one case a computer bag had been left visible in an unlocked and unattended car. The remainder have been left visible and parked on driveways or in car parks as well as on the streets, in some cases overnight.
Don’t help thieves to help themselves. Be aware of where your property is at all times. Don’t leave bags unattended, this is even more important in the days of increased security, but it makes simple common sense not to leave handbags in unlocked cars or unattended on shopping trolleys or buggies.
Police Constable Duncan Hillcoat, Crime Reduction Officer said, “Anything visible in an unattended car is just too much of a temptation and if you leave the car unlocked as well it looks like an open invitation for an opportunist thief. If you have a buggy and need to carry items with you, consider getting a full backpack, which will leave your hands free to shop and play with your children. Don’t leave your handbag on your shopping trolley and wander off to do the shopping. It only takes seconds for someone to walk past and steal it.” |
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Barnet Police News 
