Thieves Target Shoppers In Mill Valley

MILL VALLEY, CA – Police have recently received several reports of thieves targeting shoppers at stores in Mill Valley, authorities announced.

According to the Mill Valley Police Department, reports indicate that the thieves are targeting people who keep their personal items inside of baskets or carts while grocery shopping. Thieves will reportedly wait for victims to turn away or take an item off a shelf, and then take the purse or wallet from the cart, officials said.

Police advised residents to not leave purses and other personal belongings unattended while shopping. Other tips include:

• Be aware of your surroundings. Keep an eye out for people following you or acting suspicious.
• Do not leave your shopping cart or personal belongings unattended.
• Keep track of what is in your purse or backpack. If you are carrying cell phones, iPods, or other electronic devices, make sure you have their serial numbers stored somewhere safe. This will help law enforcement if they are recovered.
• Know your credit card information so that you can report it to your financial institution as soon as possible.
• Avoid storing large quantities of valuables in your purse.
• Report suspicious activity. If you see something suspicious, report it to the police as soon as possible.

Anyone with information about the recent thefts is asked to contact the Mill Valley Police Department at 415-389-4100.

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