Crime & Safety

Alexandria Police Warn of Property Thefts at Grocery Stores

Police remind residents to not leave purses or wallets unattended in grocery carts.

Alexandria police are warning citizens of a recent increase in reports of items stolen from purses at grocery stores.

Police have received reports of at least five instances of thefts of items from grocery carts in the city since December.

“We’ve had incidents where a female carrying a purse puts it in the shopping cart in the place where a kid would be,” Alexandria Police Capt. Diane Gittins told the Del Ray Business Association on Monday. “Then they leave the purse unattended and suspects are taking wallets and cellphones out of the purse.”

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Police sent out a release Monday offering the following tips regarding personal belongings:

  • Do not leave your purse or wallet unattended in your grocery cart while shopping. 
  • Keep your purse closed.
  • Carry only items that are needed.
  • Take only the credit cards or cash you plan to use.

To report a theft of belongings to the Alexandria Police Department, call 703-746-4444.

Find out what's happening in Old Town Alexandriawith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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