What feels like a harmless habit—dropping your purse into a shopping cart—has quietly become the perfect setup for professional thieves. They watch for distraction: a shopper comparing prices, reaching for items on a high shelf, or turning away for just a few seconds. Working alone or in pairs, they move in fast. One creates a friendly diversion, the other lifts the purse and vanishes before the victim even looks back.

Protecting yourself doesn’t require fear, just intention. Keep your purse zipped, strapped across your body, or firmly in your hand. If it must go in the cart, loop the strap through the child seat and keep it in front of you, never behind. Stay aware of anyone crowding your space or insisting on “helping” you. A few simple habits can mean the difference between a normal shopping trip and a nightmare of canceled cards, stolen identities, and violated trust.