Attempted robbery
By Joanie
@Freelanzer (10782)
Canada
January 13, 2016 10:02pm CST
We were shopping at the IKEA the other day and on our way to the checkout I called my husband over to look at something. I had my handbag in the shopping cart and noticed that he didn't have the cart with him. I always keep an eye on the shopping cart when I have my handbag in it so I immediately asked, "where is the cart, my purse is in it" It just took seconds for me to notice and he immediately turned around and said I left it here, just a few feet from where we were standing. The cart was gone. Just about a short distance from where we were we saw three women wheeling the cart away. They didn't even seem surprised when I caught up with them and said "you have my cart" and took my cart away from them.
At first I thought it was a mistake since I have done that in the past, - mixed up the shopping carts - but their reaction told me it wasn't. There was no apology, no other cart in sight and they looked as if they were caught red handed and made no attempt to find their cart. Another shopper who saw the whole thing pointed out to me that they were leaving the store without a cart and no purchases in hand and that they never had a cart.
Luckily I caught them in time or they would have been out of the store with my purse laughing all the way. It was a close call and I am so relieved I had the presence of mind to ask where the cart was. This all happened in seconds and a good lesson that thieves walk among us and we always have to be on guard.
15 people like this
14 responses
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jan 16
It is the speed and the nerve of these people that continually surprise us I think. There is a group of women in the city near us who regularly go to the Salvos store to shoplift. They don't need to. They are all quite well-to-do. When they appear the manageress brings every available worker and volunteer into the shop to keep an eye on the women. It's very cheeky.
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
14 Jan 16
why would they shoplift if they didn't need it?
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Jan 16
These women were well dressed and no indication that they were common thieves. Just goes to show you can't trust anyone
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381760)
• Rockingham, Australia
14 Jan 16
@hereandthere They just regarded it as a bit of fun - to see if they could get past the shop assistants. I think it was a dreadful thing for grown women to be doing.
2 people like this
@infatuatedbby (94909)
• United States
14 Jan 16
Glad you found your cart! I never put my purse unattended in a cart anymore due to an event of being robbed.
2 people like this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Jan 16
It wasn't the smart thing to do especially when someone else is pushing the cart
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
15 Jan 16
I think I would have reported it to the authoirites, they need to be called up on the attempted theft.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Jan 16
As they say "wolf in sheep's clothing" you never know who is lurking around the corner
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
16 Jan 16
It could have gone differently and it was sure a close call
1 person likes this
@ridingbet (66854)
• Philippines
20 Jan 16
was there no CCTV? anywhere, I believe these robberies happen. Those women I think had their eye on your cart and the purse, and they wanted to get away with it. Did you not report them to the store guards and proper authorities?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189793)
• Boise, Idaho
15 Jan 16
You are lucky. Glad you thought quickly and looked around.
@SIMPLYD (90717)
• Philippines
22 Jan 16
That is why i always have my bag on my shoulder not on the cart , just in case i am not looking at it and someone picks it up. This is the style of robbers on shops .
@hereandthere (45628)
• Philippines
14 Jan 16
it feels like this is not the first time they did it. it's like they just shrugged it off. win some, lose some kind of attitude. i hope the store has cctv cameras so they can watch out for these three women.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Jan 16
I wonder why they would even attempt it since I am sure there are cameras. However, they probably figure out if they simply walk out with handbag it would be difficult to identify them as the thieves
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Jan 16
So sneaky, I wish I had thought about snapping a photo of them while they had my cart
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
14 Jan 16
thank heavens y'all were able to get it 'fore they'd rummaged through yer purse 'n taken what they wished. i dunno why some folks do such?? yepperz, ne'er leave yer purse'n a cart coz there's some out there who jest aint right'n the head.
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Jan 16
Not going to do that again, but so glad they didn't get away with it this time, just sorry for all the other people they are free to scam. Just wished there was something i could do about it.
1 person likes this
@carexing25 (1822)
• Philippines
14 Jan 16
i never put my bag or purse on shopping carts coz in my place thieves act fast, they run fast and their hands are very light that you can't almost feel them around you.. when I go shopping, i prefer to put my money in my side pockets (not on the back) ..
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Jan 16
I know I should't be doing it but sometimes you have a false sense of security and feel that if someone is in the store shopping, they won't steal from you. However, this incident reminded me to be more cautious in future
1 person likes this
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
14 Jan 16
The thing is they didn't even claim to make a mistake - they were so transparent or bold faced I should say
