Stories From Main Street: Going On 'Purse Patrol' In Mamaroneck
MAMARONECK, NY (WCBS 880) - You wouldn't think that a grocery store was a likely spot to get robbed.
Police in the Village of Mamaroneck are suggesting otherwise, and want shoppers to remain vigilant.
Sgt. Regan Kelly cruises local supermarkets, looking for women who leave their purses in the shopping cart.
While they're checking prices on the shelves, Kelly sneaks up to the cart and slaps a sticker on the unattended purse.
"We've been sitting here doing this safety program, called 'purse patrol' trying to teach the ladies who shop the importance of keeping track of your bag," Kelly explained to the purse's surprised owner.
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Shopper Joyce Bernstein was grateful for the reminder.
"I thought I had my eye on it," Bernstein said.
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Kelly said, "It was almost too easy. I thought it was going to be difficult for us to do, but just in the last half hour we've done probably close to a dozen, and that's a lot of purses that could have been stolen."
"It's good to point it out to people like me that keep forgetting that you shouldn't leave your purse open," said Pam, another shopper.
The Purse Patrol is a joint effort with People's United Bank.
"[Shoppers] shouldn't leave their purse in the shopping cart and turn around and check the price of yogurt. So, be aware of where your purse is and keep it under wraps," says People's United Bank crime prevention specialist Angela DeLeone.
