Hands off the cart!

[fma_fanatic]

The husband and I made a run to the grocery store because they were having their however annual meat sale to stock up.

As we're looking over the London Broils, a woman starts walking off with our cart, that I had specifically told the husband to watch. We both had to say something somewhat loudly to get her to stop, because my purse was in it! (yeah, I know, my mistake)

I took the cart back and gave her a stern look. She half heartedly apologized, then said "Jeeze, relax it was a mistake!" I looked at her and said "Yes, but I bet you wouldn't feel that way if you'd ever had your purse stolen before." She walked off, ignoring us. I then gave the husband a stern talk about when I say watch the cart, watch the cart. He's lucky he got sushi (though he'd tell you he'd gotten it because he paid for it).

What's interesting is that I saw the same woman head to the self checkout at the same time we were checking out and she had one of those mini-carts, so I have some doubts that she "mistook" our cart for hers.

[Kristev]

I'm certain she didn't. Check your purse and make sure everything is there that should be.

[siead_lietrathua]

oh man, that reminded me of an old lady that was shopping with her (40-50yrold) daughter i ended up tracking around the grocery store. the daughter abandoned the cart to go into the next aisle to get something while the old lady was already off looking at something. so old lady comes back to the cart, takes her daughters small purse she left in the kiddy-carrier, and drops it into her own large purse. when i gave her the "WTF" face, she grinned and commented on how it will teach her daughter a hell of a lesson.

[PepperElf]

What's interesting is that I saw the same woman head to the self checkout at the same time we were checking out and she had one of those mini-carts, so I have some doubts that she "mistook" our cart for hers.

Which is why she was so "offended" at you.

Mom had it happen once... or rather three times. Three times the same "lady" tried to take her cart "claiming" she mistook it for her sister's cart.

The third time Mom accused her of trying to steal her purse and said she was going to get the manager. The lady took off. ... I think mom still told the manager too because she may not have been the only target.


This is, of course, why ... if I have my purse with me I never leave it on the cart alone. Or I simply don't carry one and just shove the wallet in my pants.

[LillFilly]

Never, never, EVER leave your purse in a cart/stroller/etc. Even for a second. That's all it takes for a pro.

Also watch out for 'teams.' One person says something like, they forgot their glasses so could you read the label for them. While your back is turned, the other takes items out of your purse. You might not know you're missing anything for hours.

Also, when carrying a purse, hang the purse strap so the purse hangs in front of you, not behind you. It's harder to get into it that way.

Don't put your purse in the car, like in the front seat, and then start putting stuff in your car. People watch for that. The same for leaving it in the cart while you load your car; it will be gone in a blink.

[Indigo]

My important stuff stays in my pockets - keys, wallet, cell phone. My purse is for carrying my planner, paperback book, pens, etc.

I wonder how ticked off the daughter was when she found her purse was gone?

I've never had people try to walk off with my cart, although I have had people decide to go poking through my groceries in the cart. My least favorite is fending them off my coupon book - for some reason people seem to think its perfectly ok to come up and try to look through it without asking.

[fma_fanatic]

Part of me wanted to confront her and point out the difference of our carts, but I was ready to go home and make dinner. I'm sure the husband would have let me, because he knows how I am.

[Pixilated]

My mother did that. I think she did have stuff stolen and IIRC that's what made her mention it to me. I couldn't believe it. Leave your purse in your cart and walk away ... MOOOOOMMMM!!!!

Had some idiot do that a while ago in one of the They're Everywhere! doughnut and coffee shops here. When another customer called out to her that she was walking away from her purse, which was on the counter, she gave him that simpering, "Oh, it's okay, this is MYCITY!" I would've loved to see some opportunistic thief take off with her purse. "No ma'am your purse couldn't possibly have been stolen. This is MYCITY! and things like that just don't happen here!"

I've never had people try to walk off with my cart, although I have had people decide to go poking through my groceries in the cart. My least favorite is fending them off my coupon book - for some reason people seem to think its perfectly ok to come up and try to look through it without asking.

I don't know the circumstances behind people poking through your cart, but in a lot of the supermarkets here, they put drastically-price-reduced stuff into carts. These are usually at the front of the store — but not always, so it's just possible that if someone sees a cart full of "things" they might assume it's a bunch of stuff put out for a really fast sale.

If your cart is in the middle of an aisle ... well, they're just nosy idiots.

[BrenDAnn]

I've had my purse stolen. I was at Mart of Wal with Dad, left it in the cart, turned to look at some books, turned back, and it was gone. I asked Dad if he had it, but he didn't. Cue me panicking and nearly having a breakdown. I was lucky enough that the crooks got scared and only took the cash that was in it, then ditched it on the women's room floor, and someone else took it to the service desk. Still, it taught me a lesson. My purse now stays on me at all times when I'm out & about, and I keep a close eye on it. Trust me, ladies, you do NOT want to EVER go through having your purse stolen!

[CalyCoRose]

*knocks on wood* I have never had my purse/wallet stolen while grocery shopping. Usually when shopping, it's in the part where the kid sits, and then the purse straps are looped around my arm so if I leave my cart, I automatically bring my purse with me.

The only thing I've had are people who look at me funny when I have my coupon book. Both my mother and I have been stopped by people who want to know our secret on how we load our carts. They are always amazed at how much we can get into our carts.

[Mriswith]

I have little patience with stupid people, so I generally just take mild revenge when I encounter them. Whenever I find someone looking thru my cart I casually take something from theirs and add it to my own. I do so in blatantly, doing my best to ensure that they know I just too something from their cart. When they comment on it, I tell them it's a "handling fee" for the privilege of going thru my cart.

[dragon_wings]

I have little patience with stupid people, so I generally just take mild revenge when I encounter them. Whenever I find someone looking thru my cart I casually take something from theirs and add it to my own. I do so in blatantly, doing my best to ensure that they know I just too something from their cart. When they comment on it, I tell them it's a "handling fee" for the privilege of going thru my cart.

I love this.

I don't go grocery shopping that often. I try to get as much of my grocery items at work as possible. Even though it's a drugstore my job has a decent selection of dry goods and I can get my milk when it's on sale.

Eta: when I do happen to go to Giant I usually have my headphones in so I don't get too many asshats bugging me.

[Clover]

Things like this are why I never put my bag (a backpack style one, pretty big-I can easily fit two cameras, several books, my wallet and other items into it. I could fit six to ten of my sister's purses into it if I wanted) in the cart, it's always physically with me. I put both straps over one shoulder, so it's sort've hanging to the side, not on my back where someone could possibly open it without me seeing them. For them to open it the way I hold it, they'd be in my peripheral vision, and well enough into my personal bubble that I'd notice them way before their hand ever touched my bag. I get so upset with my mother over this, she constantly leaves her open purse, wallet and checkbook in clear evidence, in the cart and wanders off. I'm honestly amazed it's never been stolen, but that's probably because I'm almost always with her when she goes shopping, and I keep an eye on everything. No one has ever successfully so much as put their hand on my mom's cart without me noticing and immediately responding.

[RedRoseSpiral]

Mom has only wandered off once while I wasn't watching the cart with her purse in it. Of course that ended up being the time my uncle happened to be shopping at the same time and nabbed it to teach her a lesson.

[Indigo]

I don't know the circumstances behind people poking through your cart, but in a lot of the supermarkets here, they put drastically-price-reduced stuff into carts. These are usually at the front of the store — but not always, so it's just possible that if someone sees a cart full of "things" they might assume it's a bunch of stuff put out for a really fast sale.

If your cart is in the middle of an aisle ... well, they're just nosy idiots.

Nope, it always seems to be in the middle of the aisle, while I'm standing at the cart and flipping through my coupons - so its not like they can even say they thought it was an abandoned cart. A simple "What do you think you're doing?" tends to shock them back into reality for that.

I just hate the people who think my coupons are free to flip through - after I tell them to stop they do the "But I just want to loooook." Seriously, what part of "NO" did you not get? I looked at one woman and told her "I don't go through your purse, do I? Leave my frikkin coupons alone!" and she got pissy with me.