Theft on Lordship Lane, easy target Mum with buggy

[busymum]

yesterday afternoon i was struggling with my buggy and 2 toddlers around Lordship Lane, we had just been in the post office and then went over to the charity shop. My kids were looking at the toys when a couple came in holding my eldest's rain coat so I said "that's ours" and was surprised they had it but they told me they found it on the road and were handing it in to the charity shop, I did think it bizarre but I sort of believed them and was pleased to have the raincoat back so said thanks, shortly after they left I noticed my purse was on the back seat of our phil and teds, this is where I'm kicking myself! but assumed my youngest had got it out of my bag and left it in the pram. But what I think actually happened was that one of them had somehow stolen the purse out of open bag which is clipped onto my buggy somewhere outside the post office (possibly in the post office!) and grabbed the coat at the same time, I guess part of the scam. They must have carefully gone through my purse and took only the visa debit cards (no credit cards or Isa cards etc) and then I think they used the coat routine to find me in the charity shop and chuck the purse back in the back seat of the pram. I only discovered the cards missing this afternoon when I went to the cash machine and put 2 and 2 together. Be careful they are obviously targeting Mums/Dads who are distracted with children. They were a black couple in their 30's I think.

[Pickle]

So sorry to hear this - unfortunately I know a lot of Mums who have had things stolen from their buggies. I assume you reported it to the police?

On the plus side at least you got the coat and your purse back!

[Monkey]

So sorry Busymum and tks for posting your story. Pse do report it to the police and let the shop know so they watch out for them in future. They could have been caught on CCTV. Hope you get your money back.

[new mother]

Very sorry to hear.

Can you remember any more about them? Clothes etc? Obviously you must report it to the police (and cancel the cards if not already done). What a shame.

[jennyh]

Poor you, horrid. Thanks for posting. I often think I dont pay enough attention, always pushing a laden pram with one hand whilst holding my phone with the other. Will be more careful!

[Moi23]

That's awful. I had that happen to me in mothercare in peckham when my first was a baby. I'd left my handbag hanging over the buggy handles and (very stupidly) it was open and my purse in full view. I keep a small handbag now with phone and purse which I always carry and another bag with kids stuff hanging off the pushchair.

[Pugwash]

A friend of mine had her bag stolen from underneath her grandchilds buggy in the Old St. Christopher's Hospice shop.

Talking around she discovered a number of people have had bags/purses stolen when in the LL Charity shops.

[Hollybush]

Sorry this happened to you. How bizarre though, why would they want to find you again at all, surely makes more sense to nick teh purse and get out of there. Half a conscience?!

[ClareC]

No conscience at all!

By putting the purse back they presumably gave themselves more time to use the cards since they potentially delayed the victim noticing and therefore reporting them stolen :-(

Do you know if they attempted to use the cards and where?

[missse22]

Scumbags :X

My sisters purse was nicked from her nappy bag in a coffee shop in Streatham, while she went to change the babies nappy one woman started talking to me about the baby (while doing this i failed to see the other woman take my sisters purse)Within the time it took us to finish our food and coffee's and go to pay, they had legged it and spent ?350 on her card?? Awful people out there!!

[newtoedf]

Sorry to hear that.

I had my purse stolen from my bag in Argos in Peckham in June. The police said I would have been identified as a target the instant I walked in with two small children and my bag on the pram. It was (and is) really upsetting to think that people target you because of your children but I think the message is not to leave valuables in a bag on the pram (also, keep keys, phone and oyster card separate from your purse so if it does get pinched at least you can cancel cards and get home etc.)

[Pugwash]

I always wore a bum bag when took my youngest out in the pram, with my cards and any notes. had a small purse which I placed in nappy bag with only a couple of ?s in it for papers etc.

[Miss Helen]

I had my purse stolen in the supermarket as well (the coop) on Monday this week. It's so upsetting that someone could steal from a bag hanging on the pram... It was a second of distraction to get something from the shelf so it's not like I left the pram unattended or something. But now I see that it's becoming quite normal and I'm not the only one. It's revolting. Obviously I did cancel the cards and the report at the police station. Fortunately there was no cash inside, (back luck to them).

The manager had a look at the cctv and it was a lady with a red scarf, that's all I know but at least she has been caught on camera. It makes you feel vulnerable and I caught myself at the time having a look inside the bins in LL trying to find it, in vain. Horrible feeling.

A good tip is to carry the numbers of your debit/credit card companies in your phone so you can call immediately to block them, have a list or even a copy of the items at home and always have the bag closed... I've learned to carry as less things as possible, because of all the hassle now of doing the documents all over again. No one deserves it.

[Mrs TP]

That is so upsetting Miss Helen. Thieves have no morals to start off with and so will target anyone especially the most vulnerable / easiest. Glad the evil madame was 'caught' on CCTV, let's hope she is caught properly too. Unfortunately, you need to be on your guard all the time, purses tucked safely away in a bag on your person, no address in your purse and keys separate - depressing but true.

[Pugwash]

bags in supermarket trolleys - the times I see women leave their bags on the trolley, just turning to get that fruit juice off the shelf gives a thief time to grab and run