A String of Purse Snatchings in Park Slope

Hold on to your purses and wallets!

There have been three purse snatchings recently in Park Slope, with two in the same day, according to the 78th Police Precinct.

Two incidents took place on Feb. 11. The first incident occurred when a quick-handed crook snatched a woman’s wallet off the counter of a Seventh Avenue copy shop and ran.

The victim told police that she placed her Coach leather wallet on the counter of at around 3:13 p.m. when a man picked it up and left. 

The store’s camera shows that the alleged wrongdoer was a bald man wearing black jeans and a waist-length brown jacket. 

The victim said that the thief made off with $130 in cash, her social security card, debit card and two credit cards.

The second incident that day was when a stealthy thief stole a woman’s wallet out of her shopping cart while she was walking through the aisles of a Fifth Avenue department store.

The victim said that she was shopping in D II, near Ninth Street, at around 4:15 p.m. About 30 minutes later, she went to the cashier to check out when she noticed that her wallet was gone.

The thief made off with her credit card, debit card, her monthly Metro pass and $63 in cash.

The first incident took place on Feb. 5. A thief swiped a woman’s purse off the back of her chair while she was sitting at .

The victim, a 39-year-old woman, said the quick-handed crook walked away with her debit card, keys, car remote, cellphone and black pocketbook at around 10:05 p.m. at the bar between Union and Sackett streets. There are video cameras in the bar, but police have not yet collard the pickpocket. 

The Commanding Officer of the 78th Precinct, , said the best way to avoid being a victim of a crime is to never leave your belongings unattended. 

Captain Ameri gave Park Slope Patch other tips that may help to cut crime dramatically:

• Be alert and aware of your surroundings at all times. Criminals often target people who are distracted.
• When in a bar or restaurant, don’t leave your handbag over the back of your chair, on a stool or on the floor.
• White headphones are a dead giveaway to thieves who are looking for iPhones, iPods and iPads. Protect your electronics by keeping it out of sight and even getting a different color headphone.
• Hold on to your cell phone and keep it secured out of sight when not in use.
• Carry your wallet in the breast pocket of your jacket or in your side pants pocket. Never in the rear pants pocket which is one of the easiest to pick.
• Carry your purse close to your body. Never wrap the strap around your body.
• Carry only the amount of cash or number of credit cards necessary to make your purchases for the day.
• Put valuables in the trunk before you reach your destination. Never leave items on the passenger area of the vehicle.
• Be wary of distractions. Sometimes one thief diverts your attention while another picks your pocket. 

The information above was supplied by the NYPD’s 78th Precinct. It does not indicate a conviction.