A New Hampshire police department shared a potentially life-changing safety tip for women shopping around the holidays.
The Windham, New Hampshire, Police Department took to Facebook to share two photos of a purse that had carabiners attached to it, which were attached to the child safety belt of a shopping cart.
“A holiday shopping safety tip for women. When using a shopping cart as you browse through the store, keep your purse zipped or closed and secure it to the cart by clipping the child safety belt through the strap(s). This will help in preventing someone from taking advantage of your distraction and running off with the purse. For those carts that don’t have the child strap, keep an inexpensive carabiner clip attached to your purse strap. Simply clip the carabiner to the cart and your purse is more secure. HAPPY SHOPPING,” the department’s post read.
Many readers applauded the tip, with some saying they had done the same thing in the past.
“Been clipping my purse in with the any safety straps for years. I get that little extra relief of safety – would really hate to see someone try to grab it out of my basket,” one Right Stuff reader commented on the site’s Facebook page.
“Great idea! But I always use a purse with a long strap so! I always have it on my shoulder to be able to access another thing I carry always be aware of your surroundings,” another wrote.
“I’ve been doing this for quite some time. I always said ‘if they take my purse they’re taking the cart too,'” another added.
Others suggested similar precautions and measures to keep purses safe from thieves.
“I wear mine crossbody….was out shopping a few days ago and this woman had her cart in the middle of an isle while she was looking at kids clothing. I was going to just move it and go on my way but she had her purse in the childs seat, wide open, and cash right there…..nope, excuse me lady, could you come over her and move your cart, someones gonna steal your cash,” one Right Stuff reader commented.
“I carry my cards in my phone case and I hold that… I don’t like carrying cash as I can’t stand change lol I barely use a handbag as I use a kids back pack for my daughter to carry drink bottles and snacks unless I’m by myself then I’ve only got my phone and case with cards,” another wrote on the department’s original post.
Others, however, thought that the department’s tip wasn’t quite safe enough.
“This is terrible information to be giving out to women.. You should never ever leave a purse, locked buckled or any other way in a shopping cart. I have worked retail many many years and attended many classes on security. A woman should carry her purse strap over her head and closed and held close to the body. These thieves carry knives and box cutters as they also like to cut open thick plastic sealed items,, so that strap would be cut in a second. and that little black buckle is not as secure as you think,” one reader commented.
“I have watched surveillance camera as the bait and switch cart goes into play and this is exactly what they they look for. The cart is switched and usually pulled around to another far dept in the store so as not to be detected leaving the building, although some do. The strap is cut purse emptied and stashed in restroom or under shelf items. PLEASE DO NOT GIVE WOMEN THIS FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY INFORMATION.. Common sense please.”