If you are pushing a shopping cart through the grocery store, keep your eyes on your purse.
That is the message from the Abbotsford Police Department (AbbyPD) in a warning about a trend involving thefts of people’s personal property while shopping.
“Police have received three separate reports where purses or wallets were stolen after being briefly left unattended in shopping carts while the victim was distracted selecting items from store shelves,” AbbyPD said.
In all three of the reported incidents, police say someone removed the wallet or purse from the cart and then later used the victim’s credit or debit cards at another location.
“AbbyPD is reminding everyone to keep purses and wallets with you at all times and never leave them unattended — even for a brief moment — in public spaces,” police said.
“Shoppers are encouraged to report any suspicious behaviour immediately to store staff and police.”
Anyone who may have been a victim of this crime is encouraged to report it as soon as possible.