| 6/1/2008 8:34:55 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
nenebubbles
Naperville, IL
age: 67
| Have you seen that as a header on a story? Saw those stories but had no idea the feelings and the work needed to clean up afterwards.
Last night I went walking in the beautiful preserve near my new home. I put my purse under a blanket in my front seat and met my friend to walk her dog around the lake. We had a good time walking and seeing family picnicing and children playing. The dog, Jazz, even had a dip in the lake. We laughed and walked more. After about an hour we returned to our cars and I slipped into the drivers seat and threw my jacket on the passenger seat and WHOOPS .. my passenger window is shattered and glass is everywhere. And my purse is gone with all my identification and cell phone and money and crdit cards and insurance cards and appointment book and ...
My friend let me use her call 911. While awaiting the deputy, we checked the dumpster for my purse. We disturbed a raccoon who was having dinner; the raccon came huffy and fluffy out of the dumpster. We carefully checked the rest. No BIG red purse.
The deputy arrived and asked what happened. He then asked for my ID ??? and then blushed. He did take my friend's id and she vouched that I was who I was. What??
He said most likely that someone had watched me and then when noone was in the parking lot smashed the window. (I think they came prepared to do that because it takes a lot to break the window) A park ranger came to clean up the broken glass. He told me it had happened to him and that putting it in the trunk would not have saved my purse. He told me he felt stupid and violated. I was so relieved because those were the thought going through my head and it was validating to hear that from a strong young man. The deputy wanted me to report my credit card losses as quickly as possible. (Ah, there is the rub.)
I got a police report. My friend wanted me to have her cell. I told her I was going to my daughter and son-in-law's home and they would provide a phone. She gave me $60 to let me have cash for thigs needed until credit card, ATM, and checks were replaced. She allowed no declining of that!
I went to my daughter's house and started three plus (yes, 3+) hours of phone calls on a Saturday night. It took three minutes to shut off my phone. I took online 3 minutes to shut off my department store card. It took three hours to shut off my debit/credit ATM card. My wonderful family was so supportive. They even tried to contact different numbers and be put on hold. We tried every website known to man.
Irritants:
1. Why do I have to prove who I am when I am a victim?
2. It has been suggested that I have now provided someone with all the information to steal my identity. I have to report to government agencies (not one but many); I have to contact all the credit bureaus (not one but three)
3. I am afraid that they will break into my home because they have my address. (I will be working on this for a while.)
4. I have to replace a passenger window (hopefully it will not rain before Monday).
5. How can report stolen credit/debit ATM card be so difficult for Visa?
Blessings:
1. My friend is a wonderful, supportive friend in a difficulty.
2. The deputy was courteous (and I think rather new to the job but kind)
3. The ranger was kind and supportive.
4. I did not have my keys in my purse.
5. My daughter is kind, supportive, and helpful. Reminding me of what I told her. Panic and anger will not get me to the solution.
6. My son-in-law was supportive and found lots of information for me to report to proper people and kind and funny. "It will be a little breezy driving for a while, Nene".
7. My grandchildren were loving and hugging.
8. I have insurance.
9. I have a roof over my head and living in a fairly safe area.
10. I have the time to take care of all the follow-up.
11. I have some intelligence ... working on really believing that at the moment.
12. I am loved by family and friends.
What is the point?
Be careful! Do not lock your purse/wallet in your car. ALWAYS keep an up-to-date list of the contact people for reporting stolen items (credit cards, etc.) Can a cell phone be the only telephone you need?
Thank you for letting me share my experience. I hope it helped you make some safety actions in your life.
HMMM.. Sorry this is so long and probably should be a Blog. But thanks for letting me work it out.
EDITED because in 11. I wrote: I am some intelligence ... LOL ... I guess not today. LOL
[Edited 6/1/2008 9:13:56 AM]
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| 6/1/2008 8:46:29 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
rof1944
Marshville, NC
age: 63
| I am so sorry you've had to go thru all that. It must be a pain in the butt for sure
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| 6/1/2008 8:55:58 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
nenebubbles
Naperville, IL
age: 67
| I guess that sums it up!
So I guess I will just take a bubble bath and soak out the pain.
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| 6/1/2008 9:03:18 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
lotsafuninpa
Tioga, PA
age: 67
| Oh Nene--wow--that was a lot to go through.It has surely woke me up.Where are we ever safe??
In this world--with gas prices rising and unemployment,etc,--I hate to say it ,but truly believe things are going to get worse.
I can't even imagine going through all of that---but thank God for your good friend and family members.
Soo sorry---take care--hoping things get worked out quite fast for you--hugs and God bless you--lotsafun 
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| 6/1/2008 9:04:03 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
delidelite
Blaine, OH
age: 71
| nene....I'm sooooooooooo sorry this has happened to you..My Daughter tends to leave her purse in her or my car when we're out and I've warned her to at least lock it in the trunk so that it's not so noticeable....
Thank you for sharing this terrible experience and I'll be sure to have her read this......
Deli
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| 6/1/2008 9:05:37 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
jwp99
Sterling, CO
age: 63
| Sorry this happened to you Nene.................this world is a constipated octupus for a victim.................
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| 6/1/2008 9:11:30 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
nenebubbles
Naperville, IL
age: 67
| LOL ... very funny ... constipated octopus .... perfect description of last night.
I think the kids will get a kick out of that.
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| 6/1/2008 9:12:46 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
sunny_08
Paintsville, KY
age: 59
| So sorry to hear of this nene...It happened to a friend of mine not long ago.
Deli...the problem with putting your purse in the trunk is most vehicles are equipped with an automatic trunk button inside the auto..So, if someone is on the prowl and sees you put your purse in the trunk, it's the same thing all over again, break out a window and Walah, they have your purse anyway.
Too, bad noone and nothing is safe anymore. I agree with you, Lotsa...this is just the beginning of hard times...
[Edited 6/1/2008 9:14:18 AM]
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| 6/1/2008 9:20:04 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
sugasouth
Oak Ridge, TN
age: 59
| Gosh, Nene........that is a pisser.
Had that done to me years ago. Only I was very careful. I didn't put mine on front seat under a blanket, for pity's sake I put mine under the front seat It was a small pickup truck. No trunk. Might have been better if there had been cause they came in through the camper.
Anyway, my billfold was found very close in bushes. Have you checked around that park? The guy took my money and a few credit cards and left the rest. Might want to go back and check. Seems like the park guys would patrol more if they know someone like that is in the area. Write a note for the newspaper to let everyone know that there is a problem there. I did. Now the rangers really patrol.
Good luck, hon. Know what you are going through.
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| 6/1/2008 9:20:24 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
nenebubbles
Naperville, IL
age: 67
| Agreed, one of the many thousand thoughts I had since 7:15 last night ... was the thought that it was the difficult economy. I think that is a better thought than they used my cash (too much but was in process of move) for drugs.
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| 6/1/2008 9:24:16 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
naked730
Harrison Township, MI
age: 62
| Bad economy always affects crime. So sorry for you Nene! Thanks for
helping with this information.
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| 6/1/2008 9:30:37 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
nenebubbles
Naperville, IL
age: 67
| Oh, yes, Suga ... and kept an eye out for that raccoon or its cousins on my walk. LOL
The ranger and deputy thought it would be tossed quite a ways away because they had to make their escape before they could go through the purse for everything ... It was a BIG RED purse .. a Bagellini ... which are perfect for traveling. OH WELL
I just lost stuff, I did not lose family, friends, myself.
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| 6/1/2008 10:02:01 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
daddydeep
Walterboro, SC
age: 66 online now!
| Nene, Thank goodness it was just your purse they were after, there are so many sickos onthe street now anything could have happened, The important thing is that you are ok, the cards and ID can be replaced. Did you ask the police or phone company to put a locator trace on your phone?, if they use it they can pinpoint right where they are calling from.The Feds can do that even when the phone is off, so if there is a ccrime wave there they just might do it.The posters are correct that your wallet and minor items will be found in a trash can or the bushes somewhere, I imagine a jerk like this will give your nice purse to his addled girlfriend for a present.It really is a good idea to lock any valuebles in your trunk BEFORE you arrive to park your car, that way if someone is watching they will not know which car contains anything. Good luck with recovering the stuff, glad you and your friend are safe, Jim
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| 6/1/2008 10:15:13 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
drlndem
Mount Vernon, MO
age: 61
| Good idea daddy, I am also sorry you had to go through this. I am guilty of the same thing. I am in small town USA and I tend to be lax, but small towns have desperate people too. Thanks for sharing, makes me think about being more careful. Hope you got your locks changed and a very secure system to protect yourself.
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| 6/1/2008 10:39:49 AM | SMASH and GRAB | |
th6231
Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
age: 61
| NEVER drive with your purse on the seat--being STUCK in traffic allows a criminal to smash and grab and you can't back up or drive forward---put the purse UNDER the seat. Don't carry every card and bit of ID in your wallet or purse--no need to have it all ---ALL of the time. A handheld tote with the days money and your license and whatever you may need "that" day should be the way to avoid losing EVERYTHING. PHOTOCOPY your license just to show you had one--keep that aside in the glove box or someplace on you. Limit the cards--do you REALLY need EVERY card on the planet?? Investigate the individual card policies against loss or theft AND improper use of the cards. COPY THE telephone NUMBERS NOW--so you know where to call and what to expect when a loss occurs. YOU and everyone else in the US is treated the same when a crime occurs. WHO YOU ARE is an important piece of info for any police agency. Not being properly identified is a problem for the police and it can be exasperating for you. Getting weepy and upset does NOT help the issue. Cops take reports all day long---they are following protocols established by their SOPs in their department. A FIRE IN YOUR HOUSE OR AT WORK Can also result in total losses--your papers and cards included. Keep your purse IN your desk or a filing cabinet. At home keep it UNDER YOUR BED. Fire very seldom damages stuff under a bed. Pay attention to cars and people--make sure a car next to you with someone in it is NOT watching YOU---make a note of the license plate--how long does it take to make a sentence out of the letters and number on a car license plate??? Suspicious people standing around in a parking area deserve watching--get inside and then take a moment to see what they are doing---they won't stand around long if they see you go in and they want to grab your stuff. Turn around inside the store and take a look for a few moments---and REMEMBER what they look like, outstanding clothes or physical features are important clues. Walk with some degree of alertness--turn your head--look around you---keep moving---any people that are a threat should immediately cause you to cross the street---walk to the lighted areas---find some other people---and if it is really dangerous---YELL FIRE--no one responds to HELP--but EVERYONE wants to see a fire. SCREAM LOUD. FIRE FIRE FIRE--no fire department will say YOU are wrong for doing this. NEVER try to be so silly as to carry or try to use a weapon or gas or sprays. You will suffer for not using it properly--plenty of people are victims of trying to spray gas or use a weapon. JUST RUN AND SCREAM--live to see another day !!!
[Edited 6/1/2008 10:40:46 AM]
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