<p>I’m really sorry to hear about your harrowing experience. As an ex-New Yorker who used to take subways everwhere, I always considered myself to be pretty street smart. Even so, I had some bad experiences. I was pick-pocketed twice. Another time I was in a fast food place in Manhattan with a friend and someone came from the front to distract, while the accomplice reached over and tried to grab my bag - I noticed on time to stop that one! </p>
<p>Old habits die hard and I’m still cautious even in suburbia - never leaving anything of value in a car, holding my handbag close to my side in public places, and always having an awareness of my surroundings. My concern is more for my kids, who have not had to grow up needing to have that kind of “paranoia.” I am concerned that they will be too trusting when they leave home. Unfortunately, your D learned this the hard way, but as others have said, thank goodness your personal safety was never in jeopardy!</p>
<p>When I go to the supermarket, I’m constantly amazed at the women who keep their purses, often wide open, in the top section (near the handle) of their carts…then go wandering over to the dairy section totally oblivious about the open purse.</p>
<p>THANKS to all posters! Just got home from having glass installed in the car—have been up for 2 days now. ugh I feel crappy…</p>
<p>Someone had recommended calling credit bureaus and I will do that tomorrow. I also picked up “Identity theft” insurance on my homeowners for only $45 bucks per year. Did not file a claim.</p>
<p>All of the stories about the jewelry hit me hard! I had my wedding ring (or I guess it was a divorce ring) in my billfold because I was going to take it to a jeweler and have something made for DD for graduation in a few months…sigh. We are safe and that is all that counts. A bunch of nurses that I work with went through their purses and jogged my brain a bit…I lost a couple different nursing certification cards and Blockbuster Video card and a few other things I hadn’t thought of. </p>
<p>DDs friends are all sending her the quotes that they loved the best - I read this on her blog. This will hopefully be a wake-up for many of them…always be aware of your surroundings and keep your stuff with you.</p>
<p>Oh you CCrs have made me feel soooooooo loved. I really need to go to bed now…you guys all stay safe and thanks again for your support.</p>
<p>If CC were a man, I would marry it…smart, thoughtful, honest, funny, attractive format, and always there when I need it. ;)</p>
<p>I am going to my office copier now to copy everything in my wallet! We all need these kicks in the pants to alert us! My sympathies to those who have been hit (my mother’s wedding ring was stolen as well) plus tips to better secure our valuables. I’ve been meaning to check my credit rating, etc. as well.</p>
<p>awwwwwwwwwwww, momnipotent, glad to see that your sense of humor is decidedly NOT among the things you lost! Hope you get some good sleep tonight…you need it! ~berurah</p>
<p>I’m so sorry to hear your bad news. I’ve never been robbed, but your story was a wake up call indeed. I tend to never leave my purse in my car, but if I do, I lock it in the trunk, and of course, carry the keys in my pocket. Robberies of valuables left in plain sight are crimes of opportunity. But first the criminal has to be aware the opportunity exists. When I attend a crowded function of some sort (for instance, I’ll be attending a quilt festival this weekend with thousands of people milling about) I use one of those oh-so-fashion-forward fanny packs you wear around your waist. It ain’t pretty, but it helps me feel secure.</p>
<p>Add my heartfelt condolences to the others here. When we lived on the east coast, we were burgled twice: once our car was broken into in NYC (we were visiting friends showing off our new baby… who is now a college freshman) and they took the bag from the trunk that had my favorite maternity shirt and matching socks in it. That made me pout, but the other time, which was a break-in house burglary, really affected me. Someone climbed on the lid of our hottub and got onto our balcony then broke into our bedroom through the french doors. They ransacked the house, digging through my underwear drawer (ick) and pulling the boys’ mattresses off their beds to look for hidden money. All my jewelry: gone. My dad’s coin collection: gone. My son’s prize baseball card collection: gone. The cops told me it was likely someone looking for things to sell for drug money, given that they took the small stuff and left larger electronics, etc. It made me feel sick to go into my bedroom for quite some time, until a friend suggested I rearrange all the furniture in the room to make it look different. That helped a lot.</p>
<p>I guess you can’t do that with a car. Hugs to you and yours, and I hope you find some peace soon. It’s hard to recover after these violations of your life and space, but let us know if you need more support… Obviously some of us have been there.</p>
<p>Hey all, just got a call from the PD in the city where purses were stolen and someone found DDs billfold- complete with drivers license, lifeguard license and insurance cards. It was found in a ditch behind a WalMart. I am still hoping anything of mine turns up. This gives hope!</p>
Hugs to you and yours, and I hope you find some peace soon. It’s hard to recover after these violations of your life and space, but let us know if you need more support… Obviously some of us have been there.</p>