Primark oxford street - purse snatchers

georgy-girl

Anyone that is going in to Primark in Oxford Street London - near to Marble Arch - please beware of purse / wallet thieves, as according to one officer I have spoken with at the Metropolitan Police this is one of the main stores for this kind of theft, as I sadly found out on 3rd November.

Thankfully it was at the end of a days shopping so only about a fiver in cash and the debit card had literally been bled dry. Finding someone as stolen your purse is such a horrid feeling and I wouldn't wish it upon anyone, thankfully my tickets home were in my bag separate.

Thankfully the police have caught the thief and they are being charged, they tried to use my debit card and it led to another couple of crimes being commited but obviously can not go into too much detail. I think they worked in a group ( possibly a family ) One woman white English nudged in to me and then apologised and then went to look at something on the rail right where I was stood and where she was not very tall aged about 55 - 60 I helped her with the item she showed interest in, she chatted with me ( small talk ) then she just gave me a strange look and walked away, shortly after a I noticed my purse was missing and think her accomplice took my purse while this woman was using me in small talk. Although it wasn't the woman who was caught with my card and purse they have a man for that. :mad:

SO ANYONE SHOPPING THERE PLEASE BE CAREFUL !!

pulliptears

I can see why they pick that particular store, its chaotic at the best of times.

A good post at this time of year especially to keep your belongings secure in the Christmas crowds!

Deep_In_Debt

pulliptears wrote: »

I can see why they pick that particular store, its chaotic at the best of times.

A good post at this time of year especially to keep your belongings secure in the Christmas crowds!

Every Primark store I've been into is chaotic.

Thanks for the warning OP...I shall avoid that particular store.

Sharon87

Well you don't need to avoid the store, just have your wits about you. Always make sure your bag is zipped up and is close to you.

I do sometimes go in there, and it is chaotic. Anywhere busy is a target for thieves.

EycplUK

Quick Tip :
Get a Handbag with long strap , purse and whatever you want to carry inside , wear the bag back to front with the strap over your neck and one shoulder !
This make the Flap secure against your body and makes the snatchers work very noticable !
Wife uses this trick after advice from a Dutch Cop when on holiday in Amsterdam (rife with pickpockets) and uses it here when out shopping .

bizzybee

A friend's daughter had her purse and 4 day old iphone snatched at the same store back in the summer.

We too have since learned from the police that pickpocketing is rife in that particular store.

barbiedoll

I don't even take a handbag if I go shopping anywhere busy. I stuff my money/cards down in the front pocket of my jeans and my phone goes in my back pocket underneath my coat. If anything, I get followed around by security guards because I'm always dead scruffy. Keeps the pickpockets away though!

Renya

Sorry to hear about that but at least they've been caught. I go in there a lot, I can see why they'd do it, I'm defiantly going to be more careful now, I always try and keep my hand across the opening of my bag anyway.

chuckley

im amazed that store makes money with amount of thieving. wen i was last there they caught 3 kids under 10 but they had hid the stuff so well and they shouted LOUD about how they aint stolen anyfin, so they let them go and just larfed! the guards dont really care so its a free for all store.

go to the till with the queue facing the door and ull see how relaxed they r with thieves even the blatent ones.

Renya

Their security staff are absolutely useless, they're normally too busy talking to other staff to care, I've seen people put on jackets and just walk out.

Col7777

This is not in a store but abroad:

A mate told me he was in Spain walking with his wife and as they passed a sea front cafe two men who were stood outside tried to persuade them to come in, one of the men kept putting his arm round my mate but they eventually let them go.
As they got about 150 yards or so down the street one of these men came running after them shouting, when my mate stopped to see what he was shouting about the guy was holding up his credit card, he said my mate must have dropped it, they thanked him and walked on thinking how lucky they were.
Then a few hours later they were in an English bar and just happened to talk to the barman who was English, they told him about what happened and he said, "Stop you card right away, it's been cloned."
He let them use his phone to call the credit card company, the barman said it is a common trick, they hassle you and pick your pocket, clone the card then give it you back, you then carry on with your holiday and all the time they have had a week or two to get to your money.