Keeping safe when out and about....

 Last fall I was out and about shopping with one of my daughters.  We were having a great time until ....

her purse was stolen out of her vehicle right in front of her!!  The thief saw my daughter open her pickup door.  He pulled up right in front of her vehicle and opened the passenger front door and reached across and took her purse! What a terrible thing to happen! It was a lot of work to replace everything! In the long run, we were very grateful she was safe and her vehicle was not stolen.

Since this happened I have been more careful when out and about.  I have a few suggestions for you all to try to keep you safe.

1.  Use your keyfob wisely.  My last vehicle didn't have one.  I am grateful our new car does.  If you unlock all the doors to put packages in, relock them with the fob as soon as you are done loading things up. Then use the fob to just unlock just your driver's door. If you are alone keeping the other doors locked as you get in is much safer.

2.  Keep your keys in your pocket rather than your purse.  This way you will still have them to drive if your purse is stolen.

3.  If possible keep your cell phone also in your pocket rather than your purse.

4.  If possible carry your purse as a cross bag so it can't be taken easily. 

5.  If you leave items in your vehicle try to conceal them if possible so that they can't be seen through the window of the vehicle. Better yet put them in your console or in your trunk.  

6.  Always be looking around as you come out of the store and go to your vehicle. Watch to see who or what is parked next to your vehicle. If there is a vehicle running next to yours be extremely careful.  Or if a van is parked next to your vehicle be extremely cautious. Don't come out of a shopping area or office talking on your phone or texting.  Wait until you are safely locked in your car to do that.  If it does not look like it is safe to get into your vehicle, go back into the store and get a security person or another shopper to walk with you as you get into your vehicle.  

7.  If possible go with someone when you are out and about.  I was still purchasing my items when the thief took the purse.  Maybe if I too was out at the pickup this might not have happened.  So try to stay together.  Numbers are safer.

Things just aren't the same in Mayberry these days!!