PARKING LOT PURSE SNATCHINGS- Be Aware As You Load Up Your Vehicle

Local law enforcement agencies in the Puget Sound region are warning customers to be on the watch out for purse snatchers in retail parking lots. Purse snatchings have been reported in Costco’s, Walmart’s, Fred Meyers and other stores in Pierce and King Counties. It appears that the suspects may be a ring of teenage or young males.

Woodinville social media has been talking about at least one purse snatching incident last week at the Woodinville Costco in Snohomish County.

Police say that the suspects are 16 to 20-year-old males driving around in newer stolen vehicles and/or vehicles with temporary tags in the windows. 2 to 4 males inside the vehicles cruise the parking lots looking for females who are alone carrying a purse. There have been reports of purse snatchers in 2 cars looking for targets in one parking lot.

Being aware of your surroundings is always important when you are shopping. Police recommend that you take the following precautions while in a retail parking lot,

·         Be on the lookout for suspicious vehicles driving unusually slowly in the parking lot.

·         Do not leave your purse unattended in your vehicle while you load your vehicle.

·         If you leave your vehicle to return the shopping cart to a nearby cart corral, lock your doors.

·         Do not leave purses unattended in your shopping cart.

·         If your purse is lost or stolen, immediately notify your credit card company and or bank after calling 911.

While the bulk of this activity has been in south King County and Pierce County, there have been one or two incidents reported on social media in the Woodinville area. It would not be too much for purse snatchers, using a stolen car, to drive up to Snohomish County and start operations in an area where police are not on the look out for them. Being aware of your surroundings and taking the above precautions is not a bad idea whenever you do your shopping.



Ilovekent.net:

https://www.ilovekent.net/2019/05/21/police-warning-residents-about-recent-purse-snatching-incidents/?fbclid=IwAR0xDvXrkGUEFEkdv-j_HBeHrmUmeFz3u6aEflaXTAg7O0mu5Y086MVGXHM



KOMO:

https://komonews.com/news/local/purse-snatching-on-the-rise-in-costco-large-retail-stores-across-king-co



KIRO:

https://www.kiro7.com/news/local/deputies-issue-warning-about-purse-snatchings-at-costco-stores/960840692