Time for another video. An important message. Theft is on the increase, crooks and thieves will steal anything if they think they can make money from it. Another elderly lady had her purse stolen from her pocket while browsing in a shop. It happened to Bailey's mum, Joyce, few months ago, her purse was stolen out of her pocket in Aldi. Don't become the next victim, take steps to protect yourself and your belongings.
Add your comments on how you protect yourself, share your tricks on how you keep safe, out in the street or in your home. Stay safe. ilona
Ceramic Christmas trees
5 hours ago
Hi Ilona, Here is how I stay safe while out doing errands: If I stop at an ATM for some cash, I always lock my car even if I am just close by. I read where someone can get into the back seat of your car and when you get in, you get a surprise. Also, at the ATM or I should say after getting your cash, I hurry to my car and lock the door first before doing anything else. I also wait til the ATM station is empty of people. The bank I go to doesn't have a lock on the door when you are in there. It's not safe. Does this make me sound paranoid? Maybe but at least I try to stay safe.
ReplyDeleteNot paranoid, you have just got sensible habits. I lock my car when I go to the booth to pay for petrol. Don't want anyone nicking my shopping while I am in there.
DeleteOne thing I always do if I am hurrying off to an appointment and spot someone dodgey in the street as I leave the house is to pretend that there is someone left at home. How? Well, if I haven't shut the door yet I will carry on a loud one-sided conversation along the lines of "What?...Yes, ok... Yeah, see you later! Bye!" then lock the door and try the handle. If I have already locked the door when I spot the lurker I will make a big show of waving as I pass the window. Also, I never leave my handbag out on show, even when I am in the house with the doors locked. It is always kept out of sight. I was once out delivering leaflets for an event. It was a hot day, kitchen doors were left open and I could have easily stolen 5 handbags and sets of car keys left out on worktops. At each of those houses I called to announce my presence, but nobody came to find out what I wanted. Amazing, but true!
ReplyDeleteSome good tips there, thank you. Yep, keys left out on full view in the house are an open invitation to thieves who break in, might as well take the car as well.
DeleteI always enjoy your videos and your chatty style. One thing I do is I have a canister of pepper spray attached to my dog's leash, which is always there on our twice daily walks. I did that after reading a memoir where the author told about her dog being viciously attacked by two other dogs. On our walks I carry only keys and my phone in a cross body purse.
ReplyDeletePepper spray is illegal in UK. I don't have dogs, but if I did I would take a handbag sized hair spray and use it much the way you would use your pepper spray.
DeleteVicious dogs are a problem. I know most of the dogs around here, and dog walkers pass on any information on any that are not to be trusted. We look out for each other. I would be very cautious about walking a dog in an area I didn't know, and give them all a wide berth.
DeleteThat is crazy that puses/wallets are getting stolen from the pockets of old people while they are shopping. I can understand it happening more when people leave their money in a handbag on the shopping cart. I am a big advocate for money belts worn tucked inside the waistband for passports and extra unneeeded today money when traveling but maybe we need to use them at home too.
ReplyDeleteYoung people who are on drugs have no morals, it's a despicable thing to do to rob an old person.
DeleteI’ve started getting my cash at the Post Office now as it’s inside our local supermarket which I think makes it safer than an ATM. Like the other lady if I’m out on walks in woods etc I don’t take a handbag I have a coat with zipped pockets. I could still get robbed but at least they cant snatch a handbag if I haven’t got one with me.
ReplyDeleteDrawing cash out is best inside a building. We can get cash back at the supermarket if we pay with a debit card.
DeleteMy husband has a one of a kind coin purse he has used for years. While shopping at the market he noticed the purse wasn't in his pocket and when her turned around to check if it had dropped on the ground, he saw a bloke standing behind hold the purse. He asked him what he was doing with his purse and the chap just handed it back. My husband was certain that it had not dropped out of his pocket and now has a over the shoulder bag that he uses for wallet and keys. Really cant trust people as much as one would like to.
ReplyDeleteI have pointed out to people in the past that their purse is on full view and they should be careful of thieves stealing it. They never say thank you for my warning, and seem completely oblivious to the dangers.
DeleteBackpack bags are vulnerable - it baffles me why manufacturers so rarely include an inside pocket. I would never use one in London, on the underground someone behind you could simply open the bag and take your stuff! I mostly use cross body bags nowadays. I also recommend getting a call blocker phone, I got one from Argos, it was £30 but money well spent, I can see who is calling me and I never answer unknown numbers. I block the unsolicited callers day by day, every little helps! I think all banks should be made to issue clear guidelines about what to do if you get a scam call, ie the best thing is to actually go to your local branch if you can and ask them to investigate.
ReplyDeleteYour video is full of sound advice, Ilona, but it is a sad reflection on modern life that we cannot enjoy the freedom of people living in the Orkneys. Thirty years ago in rural Wiltshire, I used to leave my back door unlocked and one day came home, not to find the house burgled, but instead a delivery of a new boiler and copper piping to install it! My hall was full of the stuff! Needless to say, we tracked down the neighbour for whom the order was intended, and, presumably, they were also in the habit of leaving the door unlocked. Wouldn't dream of doing it now!
ReplyDeleteLove your videos. Lots of good advice. What type of moisturiser do you use, Ilona? Your complexion is so nice. Eilidh x
ReplyDeleteMy facial routine is very basic. I wash my face with soap and water under a cold running tap every morning. It gets an extra wash when I have a bath once a week, and if I wash my hair at the kitchen sink in between times. I moisturize after washing because my skin tends to be a bit dry.
DeleteI don't wash my face before I go to bed, and don't moisturize either. I wear no makeup at all.
I will not pay a lot of money for moisturizer. At the moment I am using Olay anti wrinkle, not that I believe it works, but because it melts into my skin without too much rubbing. It was a treat, and a two for one offer. I have some Nomad calming after shave balm by Crabtree and Evelyn, found in a skip. It smells divine, I spread that all over my face. I don't stick with a favourite, I will try others.
My skin condition is very good, it's just that I can't do much about the wrinkles. I think a lot depends on what you put inside your body. The wrong foods, alcohol, and smoking will all show on your on your skin eventually.
I am like you Ilona and dont trust people easily.I am always aware that there are a lot of people out there who would do you a bad turn.This awareness has been used alot over the years!.Ive still got the screwdriver marks in my front door,where someone tried to slide my yalelock across to get in.Luckily I have a dead lock which I always use,whether Im in the house or out,so they couldnt get in.Never let anyone in your house that you dont know.Hi viz jackets make people look official and the con people know this.Always go to the window first and if you dont know them Dont Let Them In!!.I think its terrible when they rob old people,Ive seen the videos when they have done it in supermarkets.I cant put on here what I would do to them!Please,just stay aware and dont give them the chance to take your money and things that you have worked hard for all your life.xx
ReplyDeleteI cant believe that after me just writing the above comment...my door knocked in a very official sounding way.There was a young guy with his friend waiting at my front gate,in a Hi Viz jacket,lol..informing me that my guttering was coming away from the house...it isnt...and he could give me a price for doing it..I said no thank you.He was quite insistent...although not in a threatening way...that he would give me a very cheap price...as opposed to the very expensive one??.I said no thank you again.After 3 more no thanks,he left.Walking off down the road with his mate.This is what I meant on my previous comment about the Hi Viz jackets!!.xx
DeleteCasing the joint out probably. Having a look around at your doors and windows, identifying any possible places they might come back to and force an entry. Scary. Chancers wanting to rip you off.
DeletePersonally I never tell anyone that no-one is at home at the moment - in fact I says things like "my son is at home but is too lazy to answer the door" that sort of thing. I did read once about putting a small bell on your purse so you can tell if someone tries to lift it but don't do that myself. Also I have been known to say to people who are walking around with their bags open and their purses on display to be careful as pickpockets could have that. Great Post Ilona thanks for sharing and helping us all.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed at how many people give an open invitation to theft by leaving their purse on display at the top of their bag. Plain stupidity.
DeleteCountless times I've seen people in supermarkets leave their handbags on the trolley then wander off to look at the shelves...unbelievable! it's a sad state of affairs, but I'm with you Ilona, my motto has always been 'Trust No-one'.
ReplyDeleteI used to work in a supermarket and found it amazing the amount of people who had left their trolley to choose a product off the shelf, or even in the fruit and veg aisle when shoppers would walk up and down deciding on what to buy with their handbags sitting on the child seats, sometimes open. It's no wonder we had thefts.
ReplyDeleteMy MiL who is in her 90s had her card stolen last year by two people, man and woman, who were later seen stalking her around the shop on the CCTV in Waitrose. Nothing happened in the shop, but my MiL uses the bus that Waitrose provides for shoppers. When she got off the bus those same people stopped in their car and asked her for directions and the man got out a map and spread it on the bonnet of the car. My MiL, as she was at the entrance to her flat had put her shopping bag down which had her purse in. She left her bag at the entrance when she went to look at the map. After she showed them the route to take they left. It wasn't until a few days later when she needed to use the card again that it was discovered it wasn't her card. Apparently the woman took her debit card out and put another stolen card in its place while my MiL had her back turned. In the meantime they had bought over £5,000 of things with her card. My MiL managed to get her money back through the bank, but the whole experience left her traumatised and feeling very vulnerable.
My deterrent is to get a dog! I have never tried to quieten any of our dogs if they started barking unless it went on for too long, as hearing a dog bark could put off any would-be chancer.
My purse is attached to the inside of my handbag by a cord with a clip at one end and a keychain on the other. I have a second cord for my keys so they're always attached too. I got the cords for free, given out by the local council and police force at a safety day in the park. The cord is long enough I can take my purse out of my bag to make payments but it still remains attached. Also means I can't put my purse or keys down and forget them. I always wear my bag across my body to make it harder for anyone to access it.
ReplyDelete