Part 1 - Lesson Learnt Post Reply

[MummyandMax]

For some reason this page won't submit my LONG post so doing it in two sections...sorry!

Due to my own stupid fault I had my purse stolen yesterday from the Waterstones store in Clapham Junction.At 11:10am I quickly went to the Natwest cash point and withdrew £70 for food and things for the weekend and thought I would quickly pop into the Waterstones and buy my 2 year old a book. He was in his buggy and we were in a bit of a rush, when we went it it was "Story Time" in the children section so there were buggys and children everywhere and the access to the area I needed to get to was blocked (he wanted a Busy Bear book and it's right at the back) so I naively parked him up in his buggy quickly and went to the section and grabbed a book stupidly leaving him, the buggy and my bag that was hanging over the handle of the buggy. He wasn't very far from me but I didn't want to get him out as he's a nightmare to even get in the buggy so wanted to be quick as there were loads of staff and people around I foolishly just went on and got the book all within about 5-10 minutes I then went back to humans pushed him to the counter and went to pay at that moment I realised my beautiful Black Anya Hindmach purse (which was a gift as I couldn't afford such a luxury item) was gone. I know I put it in there as it was a shopig tote bag without a zip I purposely shoved it down.

[MummyandMax]

*shopping tote

[MummyandMax]

Part 2 The staff at Waterstones were so helpful and cooperated with the police with the CCTV. I know I was stupid leaving it for even just a moment and have learnt the hard way now. Coincidently my husband is a police officer and is forever telling me to be careful which I am usually as have never lost or had anything stolen. This is why I am so upset as I work very hard for my money, I drag my lovely 2 year old out of his bed at 6am every morning to go to work and we are not home till after 7pm so it's a long day for him and to loose £70 is a big deal to me and to lose all my cards and as I am from Australia I had cards from there and driving licence with my address and other forms of identification which can be used for identity theft makes me feel sick and violated BUT it was my fault.

[MummyandMax]

Part 3 Anyway sorry for the LONG post but please be careful if you leave your bag on your buggy and please if anyone in the area finds my beautiful purse that was a gift from a family I use to nanny for or any of my cards that may have been disposed of I would appreciate them returned. Thank you and sorry again for the long post. Kelli Watling

[MummyandMax]

Sorry 3 sections and the odd iPhone auto correct mistake! Vent over!

[lockets]

Hi Kelli so sorry to hear about your purse, it's an awful feeling when something like this happens to you. It seems that there has been a spate of this kind of theft at the moment. Last week two different lady's reported on another site of having their purses stolen from H&M and entertainer in Wimbledon within a day of each other. I'm sure you have already been advised this, when I was worried by identity fraud the police recommend this site:- x
https://www.cifas.org.uk/pr_for_individuals

[MummyandMax]

Thanks Lockets for your post, have heard of a similar company but will have a look x

[MummyandMax]

Thanks Petal, will be now taking an across the shoulder bag everywhere I go. Am still so angry today at myself and the horrible thief x

[storm35]

Hi, I am so sorry to hear this. Approx four weeks ago I bumped into my friend in Waitrose on St Johns Road who had also just had her purse stolen and had also just withdrawn money from Natwest. She ALSO had her young toddler in a buggy with her. They looked at the CCTV and it showed her entering Waitrose with two men behind her. She was followed immediately to the baking aisle and then distracted by one who asked her opinion on what to buy for a cake. The camera showed the other taking her purse from the buggy. From what we saw on the CCTV we can only assume they saw her take money out from Natwest and followed her in. As we were talking at the customer service aisle a young girl there with a buggy told us it had also happened to her two weeks previously. This is obviously routinely happening at that spot so please be careful.

[MummyandMax]

Thanks catherton - that doesn't sound good.
I received a phone call from the police updating me about the theft of my purse from Waterstones and they have informed me that they watched the CCTV footage provided by Waterstones and it shows a lady in a black coat go into my bag and take out my purse while my back was turned for no less then 30 seconds the police officer said. (Again my stupid fault for leaving it unattended on the back of the buggy but it wasn't exposed) So please all parents with buggys and bags be vigilant with your belongings as I would hate for this to happen to anyone else and to the low life woman who did this - you are a horrible person whatever your circumstances you don't steal from another woman (or anyone) and go near her baby in her buggy. Horrid horrid horrid woman and I hope the police can identify you and arrest you quickly.

[london_maman]

Gosh I feel for you and understand how having 70£ stolen when you work hard feels horrible.
But reading you, I also thank God that nothing happened to your 2 year old. Things happen so quickly especially when there are so many people around...