Bag Thefts in London

[Dimplenose]

I thought I'd remind everybody to guard their possessions carefully especially in busy places.

Yesterday I witnessed a lady have her handbag stolen from a coffee shop in Shaftsbury Avenue. A man near her table had been looking "odd" for a few minutes, but by the time I worked out what he was up to it was too late to alert the lady.

We went out into the street but he had "vanished".

We worked out that he must have "fished" the bag from under her table with his umbrella. Her husband called the police and she immediately phoned her bank to stop her credit card. My friend and I waited with her and her husband for over an hour until the police arrived to take the details.

I know this could happen anywhere but with a lot of interest in trips to London on these boards I'd like to help prevent it happening again.

Take the following precautions,

Do not keep your house keys and address together (beware the new driving licences have your address printed on the photocard).
Do not keep your hotel key and hotel/room number together.
Carry as little cash as possible.
Know your bank phone number.
Keep hold of your bag at all times especially in theatres and resteraunts.

Please add to this list if you can.

Lastly I must say how disgusted we were with the staff at the Costa Cafe. I agree that it wasn't their responsibility but they totally ignored this poor woman, not even a word to see if she was OK. All four of us were shaking like leaves and we didn't have so much as eye contact from them - they didn't even know if the cafe had CCTV cameras when the police asked them!!

Sorry this is so long but I feel so awful for this lady who was in town to celebrate her birthday.

Libby

 

[KayleeUK]

Not a nice birthday present for that lady.

 

[WDWfan uk]

I think this is a good reminder Libby and thanks for posting.

I would also add remembering to keep your bag closed at all times, be it a zip, clasp or stud - keep it closed.

A while ago I had my purse taken from my handbag as I rushed for a tube - I'd just given some money to a busker and we made a dash for a train and I had only pushed my purse back in my bag but didn't close my bag up . The man pressed down on my shoulder and arm, took the purse just as I was entering the tube and the doors were closing - perfect timing

I stopped my credit cards from the operations office at Liverpool St station. Visa discovered he'd spent hundreds of pounds on my card within half an hour of the theft.

 

[kazzie]

Shirley,

Thats horrible,especially after you doing an act of kindness

Did your credit card company refund the money he'd spent?

 

[pmcpmc]

in London.
While in Disneyland Paris for Halloween I had my wallet stolen by a Romanian kid in the Hard Rock Cafe.
Biggest loss I had three 5 day Hopper passesi n it with only one day used

 

[kazzie]

pmcpmc

Thats horrible

Did you get the hoppers replaced at Guest relations,I'm sure you could have?

 

[WDWfan uk]

Hi Karen - I was not charged for the money spent after the card was stolen. I called them asap after the theft and they asked what time the purse was taken. Anything spent on the card from the time onwards was not charged to me.

Their fraud dept called me and listed all the places and money spent, and he said he had to ask as a matter of process if I had been to them and spent whatever on the card - e.g. he said did you go to Bennettons (and name of the branch) and spend £400 at 4.10pm? I just said No in horror at everything on the list.