Pickpocket at Super Lake

Experienced by a friend:

I bought two bags of groceries at Super Lake and put them in the cart, as my car was right there. A girl, maybe ten or so years old, and a younger boy glommed onto me as soon as I exited. They must have been watching me pay the cashier. The girl grabbed the front of the cart. I’d said “No, gracias” to buying beans and help with bags. The girl kept staring intently at me.

I stowed the two bags on the back seat of the car, with my handbag with its large opening over my arm. I was distracted by the girl’s presence.

The next day I was having lunch with friends, and my wallet was gone. Fortunately, I have a separate bag for big bills. I came home and searched, thinking my mind was going, then harked back to the scene at Super Lake.

I lost my driver’s licenses, Mexican and California. Fortunately, I keep credit and ATM cards at home.

I blame myself for being careless, and for having a handbag with a large opening.

Beware.

Yes. Always be aware.

Thanks for the heads up.

FWIW, I always put my small bills in one shirt pocket and my larger bills, licences, and credit cards in another with both being zippered shut. This is a man's solution and front zippered shirts can be ordered. I have been a sardine on the big city's metro system and multiple mercados considered like the metro, pick pocket havens without a loss over many years. The only thing in my back pockets are a handkerchief  and a bandana.

Thanks for the heads up. I carry my large bills in my bra:) and separate small card case in a zippered pocket it I'm getting cash from the ATM.

Thank for the heads up. This is a new one!

mouseketeer wrote:Experienced by a friend:

I bought two bags of groceries at Super Lake and put them in the cart, as my car was right there.  A girl, maybe ten or so years old, and a younger boy glommed onto me as soon as I exited.  They must have been watching me pay the cashier.  The girl grabbed the front  of the cart.  I’d said “No, gracias” to buying beans and help with bags.  The girl kept staring intently at me.

I stowed the two bags on the back seat of the car, with my handbag with its large opening over my arm.  I was distracted by the girl’s presence.

The next day I was having lunch with friends, and my wallet was gone.  Fortunately, I have a separate bag for big bills.  I came home and searched, thinking my mind was going, then harked back to the scene at Super Lake.

I lost my driver’s licenses, Mexican and California.  Fortunately, I keep credit and ATM cards at home.

I blame myself for being careless, and for having a handbag with a large opening.

Beware.

Do not blame yourself for this act of thievery. You are the victim.

Consider your loss tuition; learn from the lesson.

The victim has the right idea. She analyzed the situation, determined where she was careless and will be less likely to again be a victim.

Tell management of "super lake" to get rid of kids...or you will take your business elsewhere

Don't ever let those kids touch you or anything in your possession. Tell them "no", "no me toques", "vete" or whatever you can come up with. They haven't been taught anything and they don't respond to politeness. I know that sounds mean but I haven't been able to come up with another way, they will steal whatever they can get their hands on.

Just like the gypsy kids in Paris but better because they have not learned how to swarm you yet...

gvprod wrote:Tell management of "super lake" to get rid of kids...or you will take your business elsewhere

He has already been told many time by now. Time to take the business elsewhere. He'll figure it out soon enough.

Lady Otter Latté wrote:Yes. Always be aware.

Best advice given on this thread.

In Guadalajara the places pickpockets usually work are tianguis and public transport.

mouseketeer wrote:Experienced by a friend:

I bought two bags of groceries at Super Lake and put them in the cart, as my car was right there.  A girl, maybe ten or so years old, and a younger boy glommed onto me as soon as I exited.  They must have been watching me pay the cashier.  The girl grabbed the front  of the cart.  I’d said “No, gracias” to buying beans and help with bags.  The girl kept staring intently at me.

I stowed the two bags on the back seat of the car, with my handbag with its large opening over my arm.  I was distracted by the girl’s presence.

The next day I was having lunch with friends, and my wallet was gone.  Fortunately, I have a separate bag for big bills.  I came home and searched, thinking my mind was going, then harked back to the scene at Super Lake.

I lost my driver’s licenses, Mexican and California.  Fortunately, I keep credit and ATM cards at home.

I blame myself for being careless, and for having a handbag with a large opening.

Beware.

Sounds like "Complaint of the Day" material!
gm

More like a warning than a complaint .

Warning of the day?
gm

warning of the sounds good.. not sure if anyone needs warning about the kids as there was a conversation about them before and pickpocketing is como throughout the world but it never hurts to remind people not to have items that are a pain to replace in a place that is not easily accessible.

the bean terrorist are back !!

yes you can control plagas but cannot exterminate them , they are part of the earth.

C.B. has it right don't go there til its fixed. I don't anymore. LCS controls them somewhat why can't the store owners?

Z

I think the difficult part is that the owners of the businesses usually do not own the parking area in front of their stores; as appears to be the case at SuperLake, where the parking area is part of the state highway right of way/lateral. As such, the pests, kids or adults, are on public property.....Jalisco state property, at that. As such, enforcement seems almost impossible. A local policeman would have to see the crime take place. Only a state policeman might be able to chase them off momentarily, but they would be free to return the moment he left.
So, you are left to deal with them yourselves. If you have enough Spanish, you can usually succeed in convincing them that they should avoid you. If not, you remain a target.

Well said. I did not know that. Thank you.

Solution is to put cameras in. Problem look at the recordings. If the kids are tripping people, keying cars, or just being pests it would show up and one would have evidence for the police.

There is also the problem of the guy who is always around the front of Super Lake who harasses you until you give him money. Today, spouse left for store for a few things - just going to Super Lake, I ask? No, Walmart - I don't want to be accosted in the parking lot. So, Super Lake, and surrounding businesses, lose us as customers. And, we live close enough that we would prefer going there when we just need a few items.

I think there is a certain amount of personal responsibility needed here. The OP was correct in pointing out the mistakes she had made. There is no one in front of SL who hassles me for money. I don't put up with it. We are adults. We need to watch and secure our belongings. We need to be aware of what is going on around us. This is true of anywhere you go. As we loose our memory, we need to pay more attention not less. We need to take charge and not expect others to do it for us.