Be Careful While Shopping!

[Diane4145]

The Latest Scam: Robbing Females Using the Bathrooms at Shopping Malls.

The way the scam works is, a man slips into the women's rest-room and sneaks into a stall. He waits until there is only one woman in the rest-room in a neighboring stall.

The criminal then stands on the toilet and points a hand gun into the next stall, demanding the woman's valuables. After
getting her cash and jewelry, he demands that she remove all of her clothing and kick them out of the stall.

The thief tosses the clothing into a shopping bag, hangs an out of order sign on the rest-room door, and slips back into the mall. The out of order sign ensures no one will soon come to the woman's rescue.

It usually takes an hour or two for the woman to work up the nerve to leave the rest-room in the nude, giving the criminal ample time to make his get away. The woman is left naked and humiliated in a mall full of strangers.

The best defense, says police, is to never go into a shopping mall rest-room alone, as only women who are by themselves are targeted.

PLEASE FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!! This has so far been a nearly perfect crime, as none of the perpetrators have been caught.

Don't let this happen to you. Please tell your wife and friends.

[John R]

snopes.com is your friend

[scooterbug44]

Thank you for the warning, but it's a hoax! Check www.snopes.com

No such crime has ever been reported, restrooms are checked frequently for maintenence, and a victim could just stick her head out the door and scream for help rather than expose herself in the mall.

[JUL]

another good reason for online shopping

[kurt]

Diane you need to make snopes your homepage.

Here's a tip - when you get an email that says "FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW!!!!", it's probably best to delete it. ESPECIALLY if it has an attachment or link. :wink:

[peapod1980]

John R also usually says--Snopes.com is your friend.

[Diane4145]

HA HA, Kurt! I'll have you know, that the person that sends me this stuff, is very informed and reliable! Though, neither of us, are perfect, huh? I did think of someone comeing up with this "Snopes thing", after I posted it. Personally, I don't know that you can even take that, as gospel!We can never be too, safe!

[Jdarg]

I used to consider the senders of this stuff to me as informed and reliable, until they kept sending it to me. I changed their status to reliable only, since they certainly can't be considered informed if they routinely send out this crap.

Bdarg has an uncle with a handful of Masters degrees, and everything he passes on can be found on Snopes. Bdarg's mom always sides with her brother since he has more Masters degrees than Bdarg, so "he must know more".

[John R]

[Mango]

I'd have no problem chasing a thief in the store nekkid if he stole my well searched for bargains.

[Ocean Lover]

A friend of ours who is a police officer sent one to me last week. It was something about a theif putting a flyer in the back window of your car. I almost posted it on here ( thinking he of course knows this happens in real life) but I decided to check snopes before hand and there it was.

[kurt]

HA HA, Kurt! I'll have you know, that the person that sends me this stuff, is very informed and reliable! Though, neither of us, are perfect, huh? I did think of someone comeing up with this "Snopes thing", after I posted it. Personally, I don't know that you can even take that, as gospel!We can never be too, safe!

I admit to being a little paranoid in public restrooms. We all suffer from the fears of modern society. Seems like every day we have more bogey men.

I never understoood why it wasn't spelled Boogey.

[scooterbug44]

The red herring for me was that a women's restroom had only 1 occupant for several hours!

[kathydwells]

The red herring for me was that a women's restroom had only 1 occupant for several hours!

Or that she went in alone in the first place. Don't all women use the bathroom in pairs?

Snopes.com IS your friend.

[Minnie]

How do you go the restroom in pairs if you are alone.

as to the bogeyman: The bogeyman legend may originate from old Dutch & other sailor's tales in reference to the particularly fierce inhabitants of a particular part of the Indonesian Islands - fierce enough to repel the Europeans and thus stand out markedly from other area inhabitants. Scotland where such creatures are sometimes called bogles, boggarts, or bogies may have given the name.

[kurt]

How do you go the restroom in pairs if you are alone.

as to the bogeyman: The bogeyman legend may originate from old Dutch & other sailor's tales in reference to the particularly fierce inhabitants of a particular part of the Indonesian Islands - fierce enough to repel the Europeans and thus stand out markedly from other area inhabitants. Scotland where such creatures are sometimes called bogles, boggarts, or bogies may have given the name.

beware the boogy man.

[Smiling JOe]

How does the man with the gun get past the line of women who always seem to be waiting outside the ladies room? Also, wouldn't this be an easier crime for a female to commit?

[Smiling JOe]

I'd have no problem chasing a thief in the store nekkid if he stole my well searched for bargains.

You didn't have any trouble stripping down and giving up your bargains while under gunpoint, but you now that the armed thief has them and runs away, you don't mind chasing him through the mall.

Sounds like a fettish.

another good reason for online shopping

How about this being a reason to not shop at all?

How do you go the restroom in pairs if you are alone.

You find a potty partner. They are always around.

[Smiling JOe]

Wouldn't an easier crime be to walk into the ladies room, find a lady on toilet, reach over the door and take her purse from the hook on the back of the door, and run out, while she still has her pants around her ankles?

(Sorry, didn't mean to make you all scared.)

[scooterbug44]

Wouldn't an easier crime be to walk into the ladies room, find a lady on toilet, reach over the door and take her purse from the hook on the back of the door, and run out, while she still has her pants around her ankles?

(Sorry, didn't mean to make you all scared.)

That IS a real crime, as is reaching under the stall partition and grabbing someone's purse from the floor.

[Bobby J]

I admit to being a little paranoid in public restrooms. We all suffer from the fears of modern society. Seems like every day we have more bogey men.

I never understoood why it wasn't spelled Boogey.

Another reason to fear public restrooms...

[aggieb]

carry fanny packs

[Minnie]

beware the boogy man.

That is too funny, actually I had that thought when I was reading about the bogeyman, as it said it can be spelled, bogeyman, boogyman, bogyman, or boogeyman.

[Minnie]

Wouldn't an easier crime be to walk into the ladies room, find a lady on toilet, reach over the door and take her purse from the hook on the back of the door, and run out, while she still has her pants around her ankles?

(Sorry, didn't mean to make you all scared.)

Actually this is a real concern. Even to the point, some restrooms have lowered the purse hook to the middle of the door instead of the top or the side of the stall. If I use a restroom with a high hook I simply place mine on top of the toliet paper dispenser and never would I sit mine on the floor that is gross.

Believe me if you live in Memphis, you have to be street smart. Even though Orlando took over the title of Most Dangerous City from us and we fell to 8th place. I think we are still number 1 in rats and 4th in car thefts though.

[Kimmifunn]

Really? I can't.

[scooterbug44]

Actually this is a real concern. Even to the point, some restrooms have lowered the purse hook to the middle of the door instead of the top or the side of the stall. If I use a restroom with a high hook I simply place mine on top of the toliet paper dispenser and never would I sit mine on the floor that is gross.

The real reason women go to the bathroom w/a buddy is so they can have someone hold their purse and so they have someone to talk to while waiting in line!

If that doesn't work, I was taught to hang your coat on the top hook and the purse on the lower so they can't grab the strap.

[Bobby J]

Wouldn't an easier crime be to walk into the ladies room, find a lady on toilet, reach over the door and take her purse from the hook on the back of the door, and run out, while she still has her pants around her ankles?

(Sorry, didn't mean to make you all scared.)

Have you tried this.... You seem versed.....

[kathydwells]

Have you tried this.... You seem versed.....

I thought the same thing.

[Johnrudy]

Or that she went in alone in the first place. Don't all women use the bathroom in pairs?

What if you shop alone?

Wouldn't an easier crime be to walk into the ladies room, find a lady on toilet, reach over the door and take her purse from the hook on the back of the door, and run out, while she still has her pants around her ankles?

(Sorry, didn't mean to make you all scared.)

They've been doing this for years. Everybody's momma has taught their baby girls never to do this (along with never sitting on the toilet seat).

That IS a real crime, as is reaching under the stall partition and grabbing someone's purse from the floor.

I'd rather have my purse stolen than set it on a public restroom floor. This is the worst!

Another reason to fear public restrooms...

I heard the other day that 3 or 4 male prostitutes came forward recently and said Senator Craig had paid them a visit? Couldn't figure out why he was lying about it.

carry fanny packs

Again, would rather have my purse stolen.

[NoHall]

Dear Gawd...the whole thing is just silly. The only ladies' room I've ever seen that was empty is the one in my house. And I would be suspicious of any man walking out of the restroom area with a shopping bag. Most men leave the bags with their female companions, and the men I know who shop alone are in and out of the mall too quickly to necessitate a trip to the loo...

(And how tall is this guy, that he can stand on the toilet and accurately point a gun over the stall?)

[Mango]

You didn't have any trouble stripping down and giving up your bargains while under gunpoint, but you now that the armed thief has them and runs away, you don't mind chasing him through the mall.

Sounds like a fettish.

It's a lot harder to catch someone in public carrying your goodies than being in a stall when he's just holding a loaded gun.

[Diane4145]

Or just motioning, for their attention!CREEPY

That IS a real crime, as is reaching under the stall partition and grabbing someone's purse from the floor.

[Miss Kitty]

Just put on Depends before shopping!

[kathydwells]

Just put on Depends before shopping!

[John R]

i leave cleaning supplies in the ladies room...

[LightWorker]

Just put on Depends before shopping!

[audie]

this looks like mr yuck from the poison control stickers

I used to consider the senders of this stuff to me as informed and reliable, until they kept sending it to me. I changed their status to reliable only, since they certainly can't be considered informed if they routinely send out this crap.

Bdarg has an uncle with a handful of Masters degrees, and everything he passes on can be found on Snopes. Bdarg's mom always sides with her brother since he has more Masters degrees than Bdarg, so "he must know more".

any time i get anything forwarded, or that says send to friends i don't even read, i just delete

Actually this is a real concern. Even to the point, some restrooms have lowered the purse hook to the middle of the door instead of the top or the side of the stall. If I use a restroom with a high hook I simply place mine on top of the toliet paper dispenser and never would I sit mine on the floor that is gross.

Believe me if you live in Memphis, you have to be street smart. Even though Orlando took over the title of Most Dangerous City from us and we fell to 8th place. I think we are still number 1 in rats and 4th in car thefts though.

this is why i loop my purse strap around the hook as many times as i can - if they want my purse they're gonna have to rip the hook out too.

Just put on Depends before shopping!

better yet, don't shop

[audie]

i love mr yuck !

[scooterbug44]

Forget the bathroom bandit, worry about the new trend of people killing other shoppers and then themselves! Just happened in Omaha (think last time was in texas) and 8 people are dead!

[SWGB]

Another reason to fear public restrooms...

Awww you beat me to it.

[Smiling JOe]

Sounds like someone needs to invent and market a personal hook, which can be placed where ever you want it with a simple peel and stick connection. (I want 10 % of all the profits for the idea.)

[SWGB]

Sounds like someone needs to invent and market a personal hook, which can be placed where ever you want it with a simple peel and stick connection. (I want 10 % of all the profits for the idea.)

That would be 3M they already invented it. There is also the suction cup kind.



I'm so excited! I knew something SJ didn't!!!!!

[Smiling JOe]

Can't a person wishful think? I've seen the hooks, but they are not marketing the product to its full potential. The purse/restroom stall could greatly increase their sales.

p.s. - you probably know many things about which I haven't a clue.

[SWGB]

I realize that, I just couldn't resist. I'm sure when the gulls on this board wake up tomorrow they will hi-jack the thread and turn it into the "what you can do with 3M hooks" marathon.

[Mango]

p.s. - you probably know many things about which I haven't a clue.

I'm not touching that one with a 10 ft. pole.

BTW, I saw something that woman can use that is portable and fits in the deep recesses of a purse. You hang it on the door of the stall, it says occupied, has a roll of tissue paper, and a hook for your handbag. Genyius I say.

[RiverOtter]

2 words..... Licensed to carry

[kathydwells]

2 words..... Licensed to carry

That's 3 words.

[Miss Kitty]

That's 3 words.

OMG...he can't count OR spell.

True story...right before I left Dallas, a lady that lives down my street, was followed home from our neighborhood Whole Foods, beat up in her garage with her 5 year old watching. The thief/robber wanted her wedding ring...a 10 carat diamond, worth $350,000!!!! This has caused lots of questions...like who wears that to the grocery store? It's not my business to question why she wears that type of ring daily, but it is a reminder to be mindful of your surroundings. This type of robbery, with someone following you home is very common, especially during the holiday season. Be careful!

[Smiling JOe]

Apparently, there was a recent shopping mall multiple shooting. It's a sign to not go shopping.

[DuneAHH]

Apparently, there was a recent shopping mall multiple shooting. It's a sign to not go shopping.

Have you been awaiting a sign?