Topic ID 4763
Just to warn everyone, a friend has just had her purse snatched from her at the counter in the Post Office!! The manager tells her that they do not have CCTV in the Post Office [:0]
Reply ID 68208
quote:Thats handy for any armed robbers out there then
Originally posted by Kitty Kat The manager tells her that they do not have CCTV in the Post Office [:0]
Reply ID 68209
Just off to buy a hack saw for my shotgun!!
Reply ID 68210
Shouldn't that be purse snatcher (singular). And it wasn't so much snatched as "found and not returned". She left the purse on the counter when she left didn't she? Hope she gets it back.
Reply ID 68212
Steady on - were you in the post office - do you fit the description?!! She said she had her purse on the counter whilst talking to the counter staff and someone walked past and took it from the counter. Whatever the terminology, this is a crime and a serious one. I once had my purse taken from my bag in Waitrose - it isn't nice at all [:(]
Reply ID 68213
I think Steve is refering to this version of events: [url]http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=455768[/url]
Reply ID 68214
Well that's not what she told me! Since when did the Mercury get anything right?!
Reply ID 68215
Never.
Reply ID 68216
I know the victim's husband and he confirms her story. Surprised to find it in the Mercury on-line in that form. Didn't get the story from me. The CCTV in the PO is only there apparently so that they can see who they are letting in [}:)]. Also surprised that such an organisation dealing in cash, convertibles and government paper has no more sophisticated system in place - even no recording of images. It is thought that the thief was cashing his giro so 'same time, same place, next week' might be the catchword here. Unfortunately the good samaritan who ran after the offender lost him in the space around Gascoyne Way, a popular area with so many backyards and bins for the local tea-leaves to dump 'shopping' after keeping the cash. If he had gone down Fore Street one of the main CCTV cameras might have got a picture as the exact time of the offence was known.
Reply ID 68221
quote:Actually I was referring to THIS version of events: http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=455768[/url] [:)]
Originally posted by ~Sarah~
I think Steve is refering to this version of events: [url]http://www.hertfordshiremercury.co.uk/hertfordshiremercury/DisplayArticle.asp?ID=455768[/url]
Reply ID 68222
there was several snatches in one day a couple of months ago; again the town centre cctv didnt help. In that case it seems the perpetrators deliberately targetted hertford.
Reply ID 68235
I know this is still a crime and not pleasant for the person involved but reading both threads the word 'snatched' seems incorrect. It was just picked up off of the counter where the owner had left it?
Reply ID 68238
Whatever the circumstances and reporting - we should all be aware that this kind of crime is all to easy to become a victim of. Just trying to be helpful.
Reply ID 68239
The woman who tried (unsuccessfully) to snatch my purse in Hertford Tesco last year was smartly dressed, like an office worker. She was shaking from head to foot and I think was under a lot of pressure from the gang of men waiting for her in the car park, hence she was taking a stupid risk. My daughter chased her into the car park and got the car numberplate - Tesco said they would inform the police but we never heard any more about it. I just thought I'd mention this as it's relevant to the thread title and it's useful to remember that pickpockets try to look unsuspicious - I was not expecting what looked like a busy office worker on her lunch break to try to steal my purse.
Reply ID 68243
Just to add to Rachel's post. Pickpockets operate in teams. Usually a grandmother, younger woman with pushchair and sometimes middle aged man. More than occasionally they use a young child who is the runner so the suspects are not always caught with anything on them. Fortunately most of the outlets in town that have a radio link are aware of the pattern and a message goes out to watch out for a certain group of people. But you can't cover every base. And they are only after cash - handbags, purses etc are usually found dumped close to the scene but not very obvious. Then you have the usual suspects who steal from shops - usually razor blades, DVD's, perfume etc which can be easily exchanged for a £5 down the pub (usually drug related). If these people go shopping - which is why supermarkets usually refuse a request for a bag for life with no other purchase - then the goods are dumped somewhere (see earlier post) and recovered later. Then you get the opportunists such as what happened in the PO. Not much you can do about that. Individuals in paras 1 & 2 above are usually known - part one usually drive in foreign cars with dodgy numberplates registered in Eastern Europe. Part two seems to travel exclusively on the Hertford East line. Having said that, crime in Hertford town centre is remarkably low. Having much to do with continuing operation of Town Watch and the Police Community Team committing more PCSO's and officers to the town centre. You may not want to think so, but its true. As I have said before, if you want the proof you can always ask to go 'puppy walking' with one of the team.
Reply ID 68244
_reported_ crime is low.