FAO OF ALL LADY DRIVERS.

[wendilla]

I was sitting in my car reading the paper waiting for my Grandson to come out from school.I got this knock on window and I saw a police badge so I opened the window slightly as I am always careful. He said "I am a police officer and I am a bit concerned about you reading the paper and your handbag on the seat as anyone walking past could smash your window. You would get such a shock at your window being broken your bag would be gone".He wasn't in uniform but sounded genuine. There was another one just 2 or 3 cars up waiting on him.So I will take his advice as it is a bad habit I have but I always have the doors locked and I only wound the window slightly down just enough to talk.Just thought I would share this with you as i bet I am not the only one that does this.

[ummmm]

They'd have to be bloody quick to smash a window and grab a bag without a reaction.

[wendilla]

True but I would presume they would walk past first then come back .and seeing it was an elderly person think there luck was in.

[Davethedog]

Apparently its quite common, if the window go's in you first reaction is to shy away and shield your face, while they are taking the bag.

[muchlovex]

I always place my handbag in the footwell.

[ttfn]

Believe it ummmm, they are that quick - happened to a colleague whilst she was waiting at a busy road junction. I now put my seat belt through the handbag handle before clunk-clicking it.

[joggerjayne]

Good advice, Wendi.

[DrFilth]

when they smash the window you get a shock and will turn your head away from the glass as it goes into your car.

they grab your bag and leg it

all in a few seconds...

[wendilla]

ttfn that is a very good idea.

[annie0000]

Sounds a bit strange to me.

However, i don't have a handbag and don't buy a newspaper and never hang about in the car so i guess I should be okay. :o)

[Khandro]

The chance of someone breaking your window in broad daylight outside a school to grab your bag is very remote indeed. Plain clothes police officers don't do what he did, - just a nutter I would say.

[joggerjayne]

I'm conscious of not leaving things on the passenger seat (bag, purse, sunnies, etc) when you go into a shop. You might as well put a sticker on your window saying "Please break into me!"

[wendilla]

I did think about this whether it was genuine but I park at the back end and there is more cars but not so many people about there.He just said his piece and went.

[ttfn]

Serves 2 good purposes wendilla - in an accident the handbag should remain to hand if I need to get my mobile phone quickly.

[wendilla]

Khandro just out of curiosity I am going to ring and see if this would have been possible for a plainclothes one to do this.

[Davethedog]

Khandro and you know this how?
I know for a fact there was a spate of robberies from cars at traffic lights in central London, usualy cases or laptops on the back seat.

If the bloke was a nutter then Wendilla should ring the police and report him, but he gave her very good advice.

[muchlovex]

I would waste police time by ringing them and asking if a plain clothed police officer would say that. The fact is is that who ever it was gave you good advice.

Best wishes.

[muchlovex]

sorry i mean't to say *NOT* waste police time. Thanks

[TWR]

The advise should be listed to, the thought is there, it does not matter who give out the info, take heed!!!!!!!!!!! whilst there are desperate people & opportunist out there anything is possible it only take a minute to remove the temptation.

[wendilla]

I have just rang the Leicestershire Police and they said that there is plain clothes officers walking about and that they would do that if they were concerned about seeing a handbag on the seat. And he said it would have been more genuine when only one knocked on my window and the other one walking on a bit.But it has learned me not to do it again.

[Khandro]

Yes you are right things have been snatched from cars at traffic lights -in Summer through open windows, but I've not heard of anyone smashing a window of an occupied car. Maybe I'm being cynical of the police, but it sounds good pr to say they have officers on the street. You should have asked if there were any in that vicinity. It's hard enoughto find a uniformed police officer, why would plain clothes men be there?