Bag snatcher’s scam!

[CaptLimey]

When stopping at motorway services beware of the innocent looking individual approaching your car waving a map and appealing for help with directions - a scam that was tried on us in Spain and nearly worked!

The individual hands the, usually female, passenger an unfolded map through the open car door/window and request directions. To read the map the woman would normally hold it up with both hands to study the roads. This gives the villain the opportunity to snatch their handbag which, in the majority of cases, is in the passengers foot well, run to an awaiting car driven by an accomplice and escape.

Fortunately in our case my wife sensed something was not quite right and saw the villain going for her bag and stopped him, he ran to his getaway car and sped off. We were towing a caravan at the time and so, had the bad guy got my wife’s bag, there was no way we could have pursued them. That was probably why we were targeted.

Be warned!

CL

 

[lacroupade]

When stopping at motorway services beware of the innocent looking individual approaching your car waving a map and appealing for help with directions - a scam that was tried on us in Spain and nearly worked!

The individual hands the, usually female, passenger an unfolded map through the open car door/window and request directions. To read the map the woman would normally hold it up with both hands to study the roads. This gives the villain the opportunity to snatch their handbag which, in the majority of cases, is in the passengers foot well, run to an awaiting car driven by an accomplice and escape.

Fortunately in our case my wife sensed something was not quite right and saw the villain going for her bag and stopped him, he ran to his getaway car and sped off. We were towing a caravan at the time and so, had the bad guy got my wife’s bag, there was no way we could have pursued them. That was probably why we were targeted.

Be warned!

CL

Its times like that you wish you had a 12-bore tucked under the seat! Glad your wife was ok and smart enough to spot it, but it could easily have gone other ways of course.

 

[zippy656]

yep worth remembering..

 

[paulp]

warning

Great tip glad you & wife are ok, summary justice would be nice.

Mrs P has a habit of leaving her bag in the car while going into a shop!!!

When I moan about she says dont worry its empty :doh:doh:doh

My rather terse reply - when the lowlife smashes my window to get to your empty bag - the bag that they do not know is empty you will have the bill for the window

paulp

 

[sidsid06]

leave my doors unlock would not want some low life damage the locks!! their more than wecome to open my door and be greated with a german shepard looking at them put your hand in scum bag dont expect to get it back!

 

[tezzer]

would'nt it be good to set up the scum bags, leave a bag and purse/ wallet on show, but with an hand grenade inside with wire tied to the pin, the other end tied securly, when they grab it and run, the pin pulls, you know the rest, and they would be telling anyone about it.

i would love to see the paper the next day. :thumb2

 

[extreme-4x4]

the moral of the story....... dont pull a bloody caravan




na only kidding . bloody lucky really well done for spotting it

 

[wildbri]

Hi Cap'n I'm pleased to hear that the scumbags did'nt get away with your possessions, even though they were unsuccessful it is still upsetting. My wife's handbag was taken from our car when we were visiting the Costa Brava some years ago, I spotted the robber in our car as I was walking back towards it and recovered it from him, there wasn't a lot in it but the SPARE CAR KEYS! You have to be careful of these opportunist. In September my 6' 3" 16 stone son had his mobile snatched from his hand in Barcelona whilst he was using it!! I have safe in my caravan and a strongbox fitted in the car just to make life more difficult for the filth.

Have a good trip to Spain, from what I hear the weather is not so good down there, but I expect it will warm up in the next two weeks. Regards bri

 

[Deleted account DD]

greated with a german shepard looking at them put your hand in scum bag dont expect to get it back!

My policy exactly. The nervous collie used stay awake and the rotti cross woke up when his yaps got more frantic :thumb2

I guess your dog sort of views the car as yours and his to be looked after like mine did

 

[sidsid06]

you have to be a very brave scum bag if they wanted to get in my truck!! he would take their arm off and if their really lucky they can put their grubby little mits in when the lurcher is in their too he is a cross with a wolf hound!!! so i would love to see some spud out their hand in my truck people see to keep their distance for some reason when they see them 2 in their was think if i could find a banker and a mp to put in their tho

 

[CaptLimey]

Hi Guys and thanks for the come backs and words of support. Just thought I'd post the warning for others who might be intending to tug their van to Spain for a holiday.

Yeah Bri, the weather down here is not that hot, currently wearing fleecies and socks - can do that at home! Had a sea mist cover the camp site last night, flippin cold! Might not be dwelling too long here.

Rgds to all CL