If there is a way to use an object to steal something, a sticky-fingered miscreant will figure it out. Like this instance, where a criminal used a shopping cart to distract a driver. A video shows the maneuver start to finish, including the moment the bad guy slips away with the driver’s handbag. 

A crafty criminal used a shopping cart in a parking lot robbery, and the victim didn’t notice until it was too late

A popular video with over 60,000 likes shows a dark blue sixth-generation Hyundai Sonata parked beside a box truck in a small parking lot. The driver is already sitting in the sedan as a stranger approaches with a shopping cart. A moment later, the walker releases the shopping cart, and it slowly rolls up to the rear of the Sonata.  

The criminal’s aim places the shopping cart just behind the driver’s side taillight. The perfect position for the driver to notice that she was actively reversing with a cart contacting her bumper. She then did what so many drivers would do. The driver stopped, put the Sonata in park, and got out to move the obstruction.

That’s when the annoyance turned into a robbery. She didn’t notice the stranger had crawled under the box truck. As she moved the cart away from her car, the criminal crawled out from under the truck, approached the car, and opened the passenger-side door. He then stole her handbag and disappeared under the box truck.  

So, what can you do to avoid falling victim to a sneaky robbery like this? Start with situational awareness. Distraction-driven thefts are commonplace. In one example, a brazen car thief stole a sedan from a New Jersey gas station under bright overhead lights by waiting for the owner and attendant to be distracted. The cure to heart-breaking scenarios like that: a little awareness.

Take note of vehicles, drivers, and pedestrians. It’s especially important if you’re alone. This exact case is a reminder that you should close your doors, shut your windows, don’t leave valuables in your car, and lock up when you leave. Even if you’re stepping away for just a moment. 31% of Americans straight-up forget to lock their cars. That’s a target-rich environment for an opportunist like the one in this robbery.

Check out the security camera footage of the robbery below!