Ladies: shall we discuss purses?

brittanyjeanxo
brittanyjeanxo Posts: 1,831 Member
edited December 2024 in Chit-Chat
Now this is not your typical "OMG look at this bag I got at Abercrombie and B*itch for .35 cents" thread. I want to talk about the way you handle it, carry it, what you keep in it.

-The way you carry your purse is so important. I see so many ladies carry it just around their arm nonchalantly. This is a fantastic way to hold your purse...if you want to be an easier target for a purse snatching. Please ladies, if you have anything of value in your purse, find a different way to carry it, or at least be aware of your surroundings.

-Please, for the love of Pete, STOP leaving your purse on the back of your chair at restaurants! Do you know how easy it would be for someone to walk by and just take it? You wouldn't even notice!

-Also, no matter how you hold your purse, don't buy one that you can still stick your hand in when it's zipped, no matter how cute it is. That's a great way for a pickpocket to steal your wallet.

-If you leave your purse in the shopping cart like many women do (myself included) don't just leave it to go look at something. I can't even tell you how many times I've seen this.

-And finally, what's in your purse. Along with the standard wallet, keys, etc. you may want to think about adding pepper spray to that list. The one I keep in my purse is a 4 oz can of concentrated hell called Fury OC aerosol spray. It has a sprayer that locks into place so it doesn't spray in your purse and is very easy to unlock. I think it was like, 9 bucks on Amazon. I also keep a small pocket knife, mostly for opening things, but it can also be used as protection if need be.

I realize it's very easy to get complacent with things like this, but no one ever thinks they will have their purse snatched or be attacked until they are. I'm sure to some people I come off as overly-paranoid, and that's fine. I would rather be safe and paranoid than at risk and complacent :bigsmile:
Just thought everyone should know!

Replies

  • christine24t
    christine24t Posts: 6,063 Member
    Buy an over the shoulder bag! Never off your side, nobody can tug it from you, comfortable to wear!
  • ket_the_jet
    ket_the_jet Posts: 1,257 Member
    Did someone steal your purse yesterday? Is it wrong that I want to know who hurt you in your life that you think like this?
    -wtk
  • brittanyjeanxo
    brittanyjeanxo Posts: 1,831 Member
    Did someone steal your purse yesterday? Is it wrong that I want to know who hurt you in your life that you think like this?
    -wtk

    lol. Nope. Never had my purse stolen. I just have a very paranoid fiance and his ways have kind of rubbed off on me. I might be crazy, but ya know what? When someone that gets nonchalant and complacent with their purse gets it stolen, they're gonna think the same way.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member

    -Please, for the love of Pete, STOP leaving your purse on the back of your chair at restaurants! Do you know how easy it would be for someone to walk by and just take it? You wouldn't even notice!

    I usually set it on the floor between my feet with one strap around my leg. lol
    Unless there's an empty chair, and then I'll put it on the chair beside me so I can see it.

    -If you leave your purse in the shopping cart like many women do (myself included) don't just leave it to go look at something. I can't even tell you how many times I've seen this.

    My mother does this, and it drives me INSANE. I've actually seen video of women being robbed this way here in Dallas. But she'll pay a tiny bit more attention to it if I'm there b*tching at her when I see her do it, but for the most part she ignores me.


    -And finally, what's in your purse. Along with the standard wallet, keys, etc. you may want to think about adding pepper spray to that list. The one I keep in my purse is a 4 oz can of concentrated hell called Fury OC aerosol spray. It has a sprayer that locks into place so it doesn't spray in your purse and is very easy to unlock. I think it was like, 9 bucks on Amazon. I also keep a small pocket knife, mostly for opening things, but it can also be used as protection if need be.

    I have a small can of mace I carry when I'm out walking, but nothing I really carry in my purse. I got out of the habit of carrying a knife or anything like that because I used to fly more, and they take everything away from you at the airport. Eventually I just stopped putting my knife and nail clippers back in.
    I do hold my keys like a stabbing implement when I'm in elevators and underground parking though. lol
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    Did someone steal your purse yesterday? Is it wrong that I want to know who hurt you in your life that you think like this?
    -wtk

    A lot of women think like this. Because there ARE crazy people hanging around looking for people to victimize. And purses are easier to grab than a guy's wallet.
  • brittanyjeanxo
    brittanyjeanxo Posts: 1,831 Member

    -Please, for the love of Pete, STOP leaving your purse on the back of your chair at restaurants! Do you know how easy it would be for someone to walk by and just take it? You wouldn't even notice!

    I usually set it on the floor between my feet with one strap around my leg. lol
    Unless there's an empty chair, and then I'll put it on the chair beside me so I can see it.

    -If you leave your purse in the shopping cart like many women do (myself included) don't just leave it to go look at something. I can't even tell you how many times I've seen this.

    My mother does this, and it drives me INSANE. I've actually seen video of women being robbed this way here in Dallas. But she'll pay a tiny bit more attention to it if I'm there b*tching at her when I see her do it, but for the most part she ignores me.


    -And finally, what's in your purse. Along with the standard wallet, keys, etc. you may want to think about adding pepper spray to that list. The one I keep in my purse is a 4 oz can of concentrated hell called Fury OC aerosol spray. It has a sprayer that locks into place so it doesn't spray in your purse and is very easy to unlock. I think it was like, 9 bucks on Amazon. I also keep a small pocket knife, mostly for opening things, but it can also be used as protection if need be.

    I have a small can of mace I carry when I'm out walking, but nothing I really carry in my purse. I got out of the habit of carrying a knife or anything like that because I used to fly more, and they take everything away from you at the airport. Eventually I just stopped putting my knife and nail clippers back in.
    I do hold my keys like a stabbing implement when I'm in elevators and underground parking though. lol

    lol that last one tickled me! I have a bunch of cutesy little keychains and a girly key, I just imagine myself standing in an elevator stabbing some poor fckr with my hello kitty key ring :laugh:

    And I usually like to sit at a booth, that way I can sit on the outside and my purse sits on the inside.
  • student94
    student94 Posts: 120 Member
    You should also be a little wary of the purse hooks in bathroom stalls. If the stall has the traditional hook on the top of the inside of the door, it's extremely easy for a someone to reach over the door and snatch your purse.
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member

    lol that last one tickled me! I have a bunch of cutesy little keychains and a girly key, I just imagine myself standing in an elevator stabbing some poor fckr with my hello kitty key ring :laugh:

    And I usually like to sit at a booth, that way I can sit on the outside and my purse sits on the inside.

    LOL... actually how awesome would that be?

    would a guy think twice about mugging someone if he was going to be wounded by Hello Kitty? Would he be embarrassed to tell his criminal element friends? :wink:
  • smantha32
    smantha32 Posts: 6,990 Member
    You should also be a little wary of the purse hooks in bathroom stalls. If the stall has the traditional hook on the top of the inside of the door, it's extremely easy for a someone to reach over the door and snatch your purse.

    Not mine, they'd have to be a weight lifter to haul it over the stall door. lol

    can you say "everything but the kitchen sink"? :wink:
  • brittanyjeanxo
    brittanyjeanxo Posts: 1,831 Member
    You should also be a little wary of the purse hooks in bathroom stalls. If the stall has the traditional hook on the top of the inside of the door, it's extremely easy for a someone to reach over the door and snatch your purse.

    I never thought of that one! As a medical assisting student, I constantly find somewhere to put my purse other than the disgusting floor...can you imagine how dirty the bottoms of our purses are? Bleck.
  • i_love_vinegar
    i_love_vinegar Posts: 2,092 Member
    Great advice! I also recommend keeping one hand around the straps at all times. ^^

    If you ride a bike, buy an extra bike lock and put the purse in the basket (if you have one), and then put the bike lock around the straps and attach it to the bike.
  • LuckyLeprechaun
    LuckyLeprechaun Posts: 6,296 Member
    I wish I'd been a bit more paranoid....my purse was stolen. On my birthday. It had my iPhone, my sister's Blackberry, her passport, and a wad of cash in it. Luckily my ID was in my bra, and my credit card was safe with the bartender....,

    it took one second of inattentiveness, and the boys that had been chatting us up all evening disappeared and so did my purse. It was sitting on the table right in front of me.

    I'm much more hyperaware of where I place it now.
  • Snow__White
    Snow__White Posts: 1,650 Member
    thats why i dont roll with a purse...i fit what i need in my pockets
  • mommared53
    mommared53 Posts: 9,543 Member
    This is a good thread. I agree with the not leaving your purse in the shopping cart. I see so many women doing that and it really bothers me. It's way too easy for someone to walk by and grab the purse and keep on going. Another thing I was told by a police officer after I had my purse stolen after accidentally leaving it on a bus was never keep your social security card in your wallet. When I'm at a restaurant or eating in the open area at the mall, I put my purse in my lap or on the floor between my feet or if I have a coat, I'll hang it over the chair and put my coat over it.
  • 1kerriberri
    1kerriberri Posts: 48
    maybe i am not much of a lady because i have a backpack and a menacing glare for people who look suspiciously like purse thieves. and i carry EVERYTHING in my backpack. I have just emptied the contents onto the floor to check what i have and at the moment i have a tape measure, some sticking plasters, two empty lunchboxes, 5 books, 3 pens, a camera, some lip balm, a writing pad, a hole punch, belt, mail from my mailbox, 2 apples (1 past its due by date), some fish food (which reminds me, i must feed my fish), a portable dvd player, 2 dvds (which are overdue), some paperclips, 2 tins of tuna (unopened thankfully), a 1kg bag of muesli, 2 sample packets of coffee granules they were giving away at the local cafe (wots with that i dont even drink coffee), a million reciepts for random purchases, the remote control for my bedroom tv (oh is that were it disappeared to?) 3 assorted phone chargers (which is fantastic because i only own 1 phone) and last but not least is a shrivelled up......mmmm... not tooooooo sure......something...... at least its not squishy and disintegrating, it looks dehydrated and hard. Did i mention i am not much of a lady?
  • Ready2Rock206
    Ready2Rock206 Posts: 9,487 Member
    I work in a secured federal building so we're not allowed to bring in mace or anything weapon related unfortunately - not that I could find it in my purse in an emergency anyway! I desperately need to clean out my purse it is a MESS!

    Love the thought of stabbing someone with Hello Kitty - I have a Hula Monkey keychain - I wouldn't want blood on my monkey! LOL!
  • Captain_Mal
    Captain_Mal Posts: 945 Member
    I very rarely carry a purse. I don't really need to carry half of my belongings every where I go and I never go freshen up while out. Also I'm hardly ever out in a situation where I am the one paying so a purse isn't necessary most of the time. When I do wear one, it's a mini messenger bag type and it's usually strapped across my body.
  • Ocarina
    Ocarina Posts: 1,550 Member
    Have to say that I LOVE Vera Bradley purses. With that aside... I always have my purse on me one way or another. Shopping my purse has an extendable strap so it can be very compact or go around you like a messenger bag would. ALWAYS wear it on me. Screw leaving it in the cart. Totally not worth it. When I'm at work I hide it in my desk or stuff it in my backpack somewhere where you would have to make a pretty obvious scene to steal it.

    I've been stolen from a few times and absolutely positively am all about effective ways to avoid such issues. It's not worth getting your crap snatched up from your own carelessness.
  • Ocarina
    Ocarina Posts: 1,550 Member
    You should also be a little wary of the purse hooks in bathroom stalls. If the stall has the traditional hook on the top of the inside of the door, it's extremely easy for a someone to reach over the door and snatch your purse.

    You are COMPLETELY right about this one. I always pull the coat over the purse if I have one.
  • PANZERIA
    PANZERIA Posts: 471 Member
    I hate purses, but they are a necessary evil. =(
  • fatgirlzrule2
    fatgirlzrule2 Posts: 162 Member
    None of this would be a problem if it was still cool to wear a Fanny Pack. :wink: :laugh:
  • korsicash
    korsicash Posts: 770 Member
    Actually saw the after math of a little old lady on SSI when her purse was nabbed at the train station. She left it on the back of her chair. The poor thing and the fear in her eyes someone got her last 130 bucks till january 1st just before christmas. I almost handed her my last 60 in cash that I had but at that moment the train company upgraded her and replaced some of the cash lost!
  • sweetmrspam
    sweetmrspam Posts: 1
    LOL LOL LOL!!!! Kerri you totally crack me up!!!!! Get it backpack lady!!! LOL! Love it!!
  • supermom2002
    supermom2002 Posts: 180 Member
    You should also be a little wary of the purse hooks in bathroom stalls. If the stall has the traditional hook on the top of the inside of the door, it's extremely easy for a someone to reach over the door and snatch your purse.

    i never thought of this...that would be horrible. mid hover squat (cause we all know we don't actually sit on those things) and you watch your purse go up and over the door...can't do a darn thing about it either or you'll pee on your feet
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