Warning - Thief, magnet and string in Derby

Take_it_like_a_man,_sonny

My Gawd, handbags go walkies in a Cafe in Derby. I will heed the advice given.

Same as I did when in London during my apprenticeship, in 1980!

MothballsWallet

To quote Nash, Spoony and Linkara: Magnets, how do they work?

meer53

Dave_C wrote: »

Any rare earth magnet should do the trick. I've just tried a hard drive magnet on the wife's handbag and it will easily drag it across the tiled kitchen floor.

So saying the handbag dragger has to hit the handbag near a metal strap holder or the clasp. If the bag has no metal bits then obviously the magnet won't work.

Dave

I can't believe you've actually tried to do this. It was you in that cafe wasn't it ?

Dave_C_2

meer53 wrote: »

I can't believe you've actually tried to do this.

If you look at my profile, it does say "retired engineer". Cursed with a science background, I had to try it.

Doesn't everybody have hard drive magnets in a drawer or toolbox?:)

It was you in that cafe wasn't it ?

Alas being over 65, a life of crime is not for me. Being slower than a slow thing on a slow day, I don't have the option of legging it.

Dave

bromleymum

My friend left a shopping centre only to find her car missing from the carpark, swiftly followed by the realisation that her car keys were no longer in her bag.

The next day the police informed her that after watching the CCTV the car thieves had followed her car into the carpark (in a old, stolen car), then around the shops for more than an hour until she stopped for a coffee so she could feed her baby. They sat at a table several feet from her and managed to get the keys out of her bag without actually moving near her at all. They were seen ducking down several times. Could have been a magnet. We will never know.

They then left with the stolen car using the entrance ticket for their original, unwanted stolen car. Job done.

The police said they were stealing to order (she had a top range Mercedes) and if she hadn't stopped for a coffee they'd just give up, drive out and follow another prestige car in and hope to get lucky. Thus they never draw attention to themselves or interact with a victim. It's a full time "job" for them as they only need to steal a car a week to make good money.

Tend to follow mums with young children as they are more likely to have to stop and have their attention diverted by the child. They got lucky with her keys as it gave them more time to get out before she noticed. They would have been just as happy with the whole bag although obviously more chance of her or someone else noticing.

Makes you think.

Azari

Dave_C wrote: »

Doesn't everybody have hard drive magnets in a drawer or toolbox?:)

Well, I know I do.