By Neena Strichart
One of my closest friends had her purse stolen from a grocery cart last week. She says she only looked away for a moment and “poof,” it was gone from the front basket. What an ordeal. My poor gal pal is still distraught. She blames herself and is spending every spare moment reliving the event and trying desperately to remember what exactly was in her pocketbook in the first place.
The really sad part is that this incident brings back the memories of the violation she felt when her beautiful car was stolen not so very long ago. Luckily for her, the car was recovered, and although it needed some serious repairs she is once again driving her dream car. With any luck, her purse will be found as well. I’m sure any money, her cell phone and credit cards etc. will be missing, but maybe she’ll recoup some photos or other personal items. In the meantime, she has had to endure dealing with keys (house and car), credit cards, bank accounts, her cell phone company, DMV, health insurance company, along with myriad other agencies and details. I just feel so helpless and I hate seeing my friend so upset. All I can do is offer a few comforting words each time I see her. When I spoke with her earlier this week she asked me to share her experience with our readers in hopes it would help someone else from going through the same hardship.
While scouring the Internet for ideas for this column, I looked for information on what steps a woman should take to protect herself in the event she has her purse stolen. In doing so, I happened upon ftc.gov— the website for the Federal Trade Commission. Here is what they advise for those who have lost or had their purses/wallets stolen:
A lost or stolen wallet or purse is a gold mine of information to identity thieves.
If your wallet or purse is missing:
• File a report with the police immediately and keep a copy.
• Cancel your credit, debit and ATM cards immediately.
• Get new cards with new account numbers.
• Call the fraud departments of the major credit reporting agencies.
• Ask each agency to put out a fraud alert on your accounts.
• Report the loss to the fraud department at your bank.
• Review your credit reports regularly and have them corrected when necessary.
• Report a missing driver’s license to your state’s department of motor vehicles.
• If your keys are missing, change the locks on your home and car.
Not that I’m smarter than the next guy or gal, but my way of handling my purse in the grocery store is to lock it in the front of the basket nearest me by tying and latching the attached baby strap around the two handles of my zipped pocketbook. I then make sure to pile as many grocery items as possible on top of it before I start filling the main part of the cart. It may not be foolproof, but it gives me just a little more feeling of security. If the cart doesn’t have a baby strap, I make sure I never take my hand off the shoulder strap of my bag. And, for goodness sakes, I don’t carry my Social Security card or more credit cards than I need at the time. Please learn from my girlfriend’s experience and be careful with your belongings.
Now go out there and be safe!
