ROSEVILLE, Mich. (WXYZ) — Snatch and grab thefts are on the rise, from porch pirates to shopping cart pirates.
One 71-year-old woman fell victim while unloading bags into her car after grocery shopping at a Meijer on 13 Mile and Little Mack.
A driver hopped out and grabbed her purse from the shopping cart and tried to drive away.
Nearby customers reportedly tried to stop the driver with no luck. Police are now searching for a silver Cadillac Escalade (2002-2006) with tinted windows along with the suspected male driver who made away with the senior’s designer purse, credit cards and cash.
Roseville police say this holiday, customers need to shop defensively as thieves scan shopping malls and store parking lots looking for easy targets.
That means you should never leave a personal belonging sitting in a shopping cart. In fact, don’t even take your purse into the store. Simply take the form of payment you need.
If you prefer having a bag, then use a cross body purse that you can keep on you at all times. As for men, wallets should stay in your front pocket.
In the meantime, shopping bags, laptop bags and gym bags should always be moved to a trunk before leaving the car.
If someone’s looking to break into vehicles they’re hitting ones that look like they have the most items inside.
If you're at your car and concerned for your safety, beep your car’s horn, flash your headlights, call 911. Police say it’s always smarter to call for help and alert others around you than to go after the thief yourself, and risk more harm.
