84-Year-Old Woman’s Purse Stolen In Seconds: WATCH: North Haven Police

NORTH HAVEN, CT — An 84-year-old woman’s purse was stolen in a matter of seconds by suspects in a stolen vehicle as she was putting items in her trunk in the BJ’s parking lot on Universal Drive in North Haven on Monday.

Police shared a video (see below) of the incident on social media to show “just how fast and easy some people can become victims of crimes.”

“Purse snatchings are crimes of opportunity,” police wrote in a post on Facebook. “These criminals prey on females shopping alone, and the elderly. While all risk can never be eliminated, there are some things we can do to help make us less likely to be victimized.”

Police said the suspect vehicle in the video was stolen, and has been involved in several similar crimes in neighboring towns.

“One way to prevent purse snatching is not to carry a purse, or to carry it in a way that makes it quite inaccessible, such as wearing it under your coat,” police wrote. “Many women think that wearing a shoulder bag with the strap diagonally across their body is a good idea but, in fact, if someone grabs the purse in that position and tries to run with it, it can catch the strap around your neck. Keeping your purse close to your body and your arm over it makes it a little bit harder for someone to grab the purse. Also, being aware of who is around you is also very important.

“Never carry anything more valuable than you can afford to lose. Always leave all unnecessary credit cards at home. When you shop and carry a purse, place it in your shopping bag. Never leave your purse on a store counter or in a grocery shopping cart - even for a moment.”

See also: Woman, 81, Injured In Attempted Purse-Snatching: Hamden Police