General Chat

when I once had to carry £2,000 in cash to the bank I put the envelope in my bra - I thought to myself - no way is anyone going to be delving in there :-D

I got a call from the police today. A woman was arrested yesterday following an incident in a large store in town. After checking the stills taken from the cctv which had been viewed after the offence against me, she was recognised as being the same female who decided to help herself to my money 4 weeks ago.

She denied the offence but has been bailed. I just hope I'm able to identify her.

Chris

Hi Chrissie,
These people always seem to carry on with their vile acts,lets hope you can identify her,and then she might get put away behind bars.
I hope you have recovered from your ordeal.
<3 <3

Good news that they have caught her.


I do hope that you can recognize her!!


I was in the bank about 15 years ago when three men ran in, and ordered us all lie face down on the ground.

I lifted my head to see if I could see anything ............... just in time to see one of them jump over the counter, and place his hand on there, as well as putting a foot on a nearby low windowsill. Then one of them shouted at me to put my head down or he would shoot me!

I talked to the police .................... most people left as soon as the guys ran out.

What I had seen allowed them to get a palm/hand print as well as a foot print

About 18 months or 2 years later, a police detective came to the house, said they had arrested 3 men, and would I look at some photos to see if I could recognise any of them.

It wasn't helped by the fact that the robbers had worn hats and scarves over their mouths.

So I was looking mainly at eyes

I did my best ...............


............. and then months later I received a summons to appear as a witness for the Prosecution on such-and-such a date.

In the interim, my eyes had got quite bad and I had difficulty recognising people's faces more than about 8 or 10' away .................. I used to recognize people by what they were wearing or how they walked or held themselves.


I was terrified of being a witness, anticipating being really hauled over the coals by the defense lawyers!


The day before I was due to appear, I got a phone call .................... they'd all decided to plead guilty!

Thank you Trish.

Sylvia what an awful experience you went through. Good on you for having the presence of mind to have a quick look but you were very very lucky they gave you a warning and didn't just shoot you. I now feel such a wimp that I still feel very emotional at times about what happened to me.

Chris

Many of my friends laugh at me because I refuse to have a purse. Nearly all my coats have inside pockets and that is where my plastic, and cash remains. Anything in a handbag can make easy pickings so all my handbags have an extra strap which goes over the shoulder, many zips, as well as the two handles which I hold.

I am also a person who has had burglar alarms fitted before having burglars.

My father once offered this piece of advice.....don't trust anyone, ......not even your father.......he was right.....and I don't.

Hope you get over your ordeal and that others learn from your awful experience. -j

Chrissie .................

I was for some reason far more upset because I was on my way to see a friend dying of AIDS in the palliative care ward of a downtown hospital.

I needed to get money before doing that ......... and I was one of the 3 people being attended to when the guys came in

But the bank wouldn't / couldn't let me have any money after it was over

By the time I'd waited for and seen the police, and then found another bank downtown, I just did not have time to see my friend 'cos I had to be back home to meet a visitor.

I was so angry about that!


In fact .............. the policeman told us all (those who had stayed behind that is) to go home, and TALK about the events of the afternoon, to anyone who would listen.

He said that talking about it often brought to mind little details otherwise forgotten ................. and also helped "you" to get over it.

Chrissie, that is good news. It was, and probably continues to be, a horrible ordeal for you to go through and I hope you are getting over it.

Sylvia, you're experience must've been terrifying!

Thankyou both for making us all aware of what could happen if we're not careful and vigilant. :-)

Glad you managed to hold onto the envelope Chrissie, and do hope you're over the shock now.
Definitely cannot be too careful and wearing bag, with lots of zips,and underneath coat,is a good idea.
This was how I wore my shoulder bag when on holiday in Italy a few years ago, and after being approached by a young woman (holding a small baby to distract me and also placing a newspaper across my hand)) I was so pleased she couldn't get into my bag.
I pushed her and shouted out loud, she ran off...probably to search for her next victim..... :-(

She got too greedy then Chrissie, so glad she was caught this time and will have to appear in court. I wonder how many times she got away with stealing from others tho and whether she will admit to more cases.

Sylvia, what a terrifying thing to happen, you were very brave to look up and see vital evidence happening.

These morons who steal don't care about others, only their own greed but sadly too often people die in these thefts due to the thieves carrying weapons, especially these days.

Take care everyone, and be aware of those around you.

Lizx

This must happen far more than we realise.

As Liz says:

Take care everyone, and be aware of those around you.

Chris x