West Seattle Crime Watch: Shoppers beware

| Crime | Safety | West Seattle news

A West Seattleite who wishes to remain anonymous sent this in to give you a heads-up:

I was shopping at Target (West Seattle) at 4:45 today. I got hot, took my coat off (and my bag), put all in cart, turned my back to it and then – poof – it was gone.

The brazen thing was, even as I was reporting it to security and the police, the thieves were shopping at the store! They spent 682.98 at Target (at 6 pm) and then ran off to Best Buy for another splurge of 635.44.

I cancelled my credit and debit cards and then something I’d never heard of until now – I put fraud alert on all my accounts.

This Seattle Police webpage includes some handy info regarding what to do if (hope not) this happens to you. We’re adding it to the “resources” list at the bottom of the WSB Crime Watch page.

JanS December 10, 2008 (1:27 am)

wow…brazen doesn’t describe it…that sucks. Times seem to be desperate for quite a few people. Thanks for telling us, thanks for reminding us to be vigilant with our belongings when we’re out there shopping.

Again, I’m so sorry this happened to you, and now the hassle of replacing everything :(

Irukandji December 10, 2008 (8:35 am)

Damn, and I’m so sorry. We went through a lesser version of this (a card stolen right off the counter while I attended to my baby in a stroller). Stunned and livid. Thanks for the reminder and heads up!

beachdrivegirl December 10, 2008 (8:48 am)

That is awful! I am so sorry that you had to go through this. But thank you for the reminder to watch my stuff closely. I am the queen of leaving my stuff in a cart and wandering around.

Michelle December 10, 2008 (9:22 am)

That stinks. But you know what? This shopper was naive in thinking she could turn her back from her purse and think it’d be ok. I see this all the time in Westwood Village. I am not a thief but I certainly recognize opportune moments for theives.

Rick December 10, 2008 (9:38 am)

Unfortunately we live in a time where we have to consider everyone else a thief. That’s not fair but who said it was going to be. If the thief is not given the opportunity to steal from you, they most likely won’t. Trust no one and be very careful. I’m going back to my cave now.

Shell Marr December 10, 2008 (9:49 am)

sorry this happened to you…..

thanks for the eye opener again…too bad we need it…. guess I should not take off my jacket and try on clothes in the isles either…. purse in the cart…. stupid!

Sheila December 10, 2008 (10:32 am)

If a thief really wanted my purse I’m sure they would find a way to get it, but to make it more difficult for them I buckle my purse in with the child safety belt than put my jacket over it. Along with some things I plan on purchasing on top of that. Makes it harder for them to get at it when they have to move a bunch of stuff just to find out they cant just grab an go. Most likely I’d see them rooting around in cart before they get to the goods. The term buckle up, not only applies to cars these days… Sorry for your loss… hope they catch the A$$holes

Lachlan December 10, 2008 (10:36 am)

Naive or not, we all get inattentive at times and forget. My sympathies to the shopper.

What kills me is that I bet Target and Best Buy didn’t ask for ID. I wonder if those transactions could have been stopped.

Another good reminder to have one’s bank and credit card fraud-reporting numbers programmed into one’s phone and your spouse’s for a quick back-up.

fiz December 10, 2008 (11:21 am)

Better yet, don’t carry a purse. Put your driver’s license, insurance card, and only the credit/debit cards you plan to use into an inside zippered pocket. I stopped carrying a purse years ago and have not missed the hasssle and risk.

Sheila December 10, 2008 (11:39 am)

They have the time stamp on those fraudulent transactions. The store should also have surveillance video. Have the police gotten that video? or are they doing what they usually do when someone has been ripped off, next to nothing.

cakeitseasy December 10, 2008 (12:01 pm)

Perhaps they made the purchases online and not in the store (not that that’s any consolation). Unless the culprit bore a passing resemblance to the ID photos, it *should* have sent up a red flag to the clerk. Then again, this is Target we’re talking about…they can’t even match their price scanner with posted prices (accidentally on purpose).

Anyway, although I feel restricted having to clutch at belongings and children in public places, ever vigilant of petty crooks and worse and feel ridiculous having to “batten down the hatches” when out in public, as a hardened native of a Big Bad-ass Metropolis, I was born with my guard up and eyes in the back of my head, expecting theft a constant possiblity. I keep the bare minimum required for shopping (one cc card or debit card, ID, and a few small bills) in a very small wallet in my pocket and leave it at that. Those items are fairly easy to track and replace these days, if lost or stolen. Not so for all the crap I haul around in my bag. I worry about ID theft more than anything. What a mess that is.

M. December 10, 2008 (12:21 pm)

I had to do this recently when i was jumped in South Park. I’m hoping they catch who did it. For both of our sakes.

WSB December 10, 2008 (12:47 pm)

FYI, we had this discussion before in a long comment thread on a previous report about stolen cards. I’ll dig up the URL as soon as I can but the bottom line appeared to be (unless I am recalling it incorrectly) that merchants are not supposed to ask for ID. Your credit card is your credit card. Perhaps eventually that will change, though whether it should change – discuss.

KM December 10, 2008 (12:54 pm)

I used to write “C.I.D.” along the signature line on the back of my cards. And merchants STILL didn’t ask for id. I couldn’t decide if that was the safest way to sign my cards so I went back to signing the back with my actual signature.

WSB December 10, 2008 (1:12 pm)

here’s the post I mentioned earlier, comment thread discussed merchants and ID:
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=11515

P December 10, 2008 (2:01 pm)

I frequently remind people in the store to watch their items as they roam around with their cart not even in eyesight. Sometimes people snap back at me, I am only looking out for their best interest.
As for cards, technically and legally a merchant can refuse a card if it says See ID on the signature line. A card must be signed. If you do not agree, contact your bank and ask them. I always ask for ID when a card is presented for payment. Sometimes people get very upset when I ask, but I am looking out for your benefit and mine.

toddo December 10, 2008 (2:45 pm)

Westwood Village is bad these days, they really need to up their Security. The other night on the way in to Barnes and Nobles, some guy wanted to “use” (ie. take and run with) my cell phone, and on the way out there was a guy running a scam for money, right in their doorway area. I’ve had about 6 experiences like this at Westwood Village in the past 3 months.

Jerald December 10, 2008 (3:37 pm)

The other thing to watch out for someone causing a distraction, like asking for help reaching something or bumping into you. Then you take your eyes off your purse. My elderly parents were targeted like that at the grocery store a few times, once when I was just down the aisle watching (and could intervene).

add December 10, 2008 (5:05 pm)

In England (and probably in other parts of Europe) they have a “chip & pin” system for your credit card. You enter a pin number just like a debit card – no signatures, no ID. Seems to make a whole lot of sense – why don’t our credit card companies do that?

Patty December 13, 2008 (9:56 pm)

The stores should have video of the cash registers of the exact time of the purchases. So if you can post the video on the blog and King 5 news the theives will be easily caught. I have seen cases of identity theft solved this way. The thief is probably local and will strike again.
Good luck!

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