By Nurse Mark

“Sliders” is no longer a cute name for little hamburgers…

Law enforcement around the country are warning of a new criminal activity that tends to target women – a new take on the old business of “purse-snatching.”

Criminals are targeting women at gas stations – waiting until the women are distracted while fueling their car and then “sliding” out of their own car and stealthily entering the victim’s car to snatch a purse that the woman has most likely left unattended on the car seat.

Here is a video showing how the bad guys do it:

So, what can you do?

Here are some suggestions:

• Keep your doors locked – at all times. OK, so you have to get out to fill your car – the driver door will be unlocked. But keep the other doors locked!
• Keep your windows rolled up. What good is it to lock your car doors if your windows are rolled down?
• NEVER leave a purse or any other thing of value unattended or unlocked or even visible from outside the car.
• Be aware of what’s going on around you. Keep your eyes in motion and as we used to say in the army “keep your head on a swivel” – don’t get so focused on your gas tank that you fail to notice the car full of thugs that just slipped in beside you or the gang of punks moving towards you.
• If you must leave your car to go into the gas station, take your purse with you, remove your keys from the car, and lock your car fully.
• Any time you are away from your car – LOCK IT UP! Even if there is nothing of value in it, do you really want to come back to your car to find (or fail to notice) someone sitting (or hiding) in your car because you left it unlocked?

Gas stations have become dangerous places – we are distracted and vulnerable. The bad guys know this and prey upon us there. Requests for “the time” or “any spare change” or “can you help…” should be met with a polite but firm “NO!” as these are often ruses by which a criminal “tests” his potential victim.

Please stay safe…!

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