"Purse snatching" is a common crime, but not widely publicized. Any woman is a target for this offense, even though elderly women seem to be more vulnerable.

You can minimize your chances of becoming a victim of purse snatching by following these simple rules:

• Do not carry a shoulder bag over your shoulder. This makes it easier for a suspect to grab the bag, knock you down and cause bodily injury.
• Carry a small clutch-type handbag underneath your arm. This will prevent bodily injury from occurring in the event of a purse snatch.
• Do not carry large sums of money, valuable jewelry or all of your credit cards in your purse.
• Carry only what you plan to use for the day. This includes one check instead of the whole checkbook or one credit card.
• Do not walk with your purse dangling from your person.
• Do not leave your purse in shopping carts or on counters.

The most frequent areas for purse snatching are bus stops, grocery stores, and shopping center parking lots.

The harder you make it, the less likely you are to become a victim of a crime.

THINK ABOUT IT

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