Sliders. Not bite-sized burgers or kids at a playground. These “sliders” are thieves who take advantage of distracted people at service stations, people who leave purses and wallets in their cars while filling their gas tanks. Forewarned is forearmed:
Hey PIedType. Thanks for posting this as I’m traveling through TX now. Fortunately, I don’t use a purse, but they could still find my credit card and cash.
I’ve been pretty careless at gas stations (and I challenge anyone to make a fast, easy exit from my regular station), but I’ll certainly be more careful now. I always take the keys when I get out of the car, so might as well make a habit of locking the car.
Can’t imagine how you manage without a purse!
Another area I’ve heard is ripe for criminals is putting purses in grocery carts and turning your back. I would vote for bringing back the public stocks for crimes like this, and many others too. The evening news showed one segment of two nursing-home staffers abusing elderly patients – they were fired. Stocks would be better.
Er, is humanity really worth saving? I’m still trying to figure it out by watching AMC’s Breaking Bad. We are at episode 32. No spoilers, please. 🙄
I’m usually pretty careful about turning my back in the grocery store, but it’s hard to stay alert when I’m in the same nice store every week seeing all the same checkers and stockers.
I’m a huge Breaking Bad fan! Can’t wait for the new season to begin this weekend, but knowing it’s the last season makes me sad. And no, it doesn’t inspire much faith in humanity. I suppose that could still change, but I’m not betting on it.
Lucky me. It’s illegal to fill your own gas in Oregon. Love it when it’s raining. It’s weird when I’m out of state, having to figure out how to fiddle with the pumps. I’ll try to remember this if/when I travel.
Seriously? How’d they rationalize that law? To provide/preserve more jobs? I was well into my 40s or maybe even 50s when they phased out the last full service stations in OKC where gas jockeys would fill your tank, clean your windshield, and check under your hood. Until then I’d never pumped my own gas.
Not sure of rationalization. Could be jobs as you suggested, or safety issues (though my last fill up overfilled the tank and spilled gas even with the attendant doing it! But that’s rare.) Still, I love not getting gas on my hands and not getting out in the rain. They don’t do the windshields or check under the hood, though. I just hope it doesn’t change in my lifetime. NJ is the only other state with the same law. Here’s an article by someone in NJ. http://njmonthly.com/articles/lifestyle/fill-er-up.html
I used to drive well out of my way to buy gas at the last full-service station in the area, just so I didn’t have to get out in the weather and risk getting gasoline on my nice clothes (or hands) and smelling like gasoline when I got to my destination. I suppose paying gas jockeys added overhead for the owner, but it was worth it to me to pay a few cents more for the service. Not to mention the owner often did it himself, which gave me a chance to get to know him, which meant I took my other car-related business to him. It’s another example of the important but dying art of customer service.
I have a phone case with slots for my drivers license and two cc’s. I like to travel light! But I do keep cash hidden in my car for emergencies.
My purse verges on being a portable filing cabinet. I’ve tried downsizing, but am never very successful.
Yikes!! I’m going to be a lot more cautious now! I carry purses/billfolds that are “cross body” style….Think I’ll be slipping those over my shoulder when I get out to pump gas from now on.
I usually get out of the car with my keys and credit card for the pump, leaving my purse on the seat. From now on I’ll probably lock the car; it’s easier than lugging the purse when I need hands free for gas cap and pump.
I see argument here in favor of keeping a big and mean dog in your car. Just kidding, of course. Lock it! is the lesson here.
A big nice dog would probably have the same effect. But yes, I think “lock it” is the easiest solution for me.
This has been a BIG problem in Houston/Dallas for the past couple of years. Best take the keys and sling the purse securely over your shoulder when getting gas. Do not leave money/credit cards/phone in console/under car seat/clipped to sun visor.
Sadly law enforcement says when going to the mall/store only take phone, drivers license and one credit card – and keep them in your front pocket – purses are a hazard.
Sad times, these…(last week thieves stole all the bus batteries in every single bus of a small school district fleet. Each bus has 2 batteries. They sell them for scrap – a couple hundred dollars a piece. Guess they had already stripped all the AC units and copper wire out of the churches.)
I agree. Return stocks as punishment.
The story was new to me. I’d never heard of such robberies, but I’ll certainly be more cautious from now on.
It seems like all kinds of “petty” (unless you’re the victim) crimes are on the rise. We’ve had a rash of vandalism/theft of backflow valves from public sprinkler systems — for the copper they contain. Very expensive to repair/replace, and no water in the meantime.
Harris county slowed copper /metal thefts by requiring they scrap buying places to photo/fingerprint each “seller”. Wish they would do that with the Easy Pawn Gold and Silver buyers.
They are welding sewer covers on and painting fire plug fittings to make them harder to dispose of.
You are right, the “petty” stuff adds up – and so much misery. Why hit the same poor poor churches over and over?
What is wrong with people these days?
Churches are soft targets, I imagine. In the past they’ve never had to worry about security. I remember when they never even used to lock their doors. I think some of the uptick in petty crimes may be due to the bad economy, joblessness, etc. But I also think our increasingly permissive society and lowered standards contribute to a general lack of respect for each other and for the law.
You pretty well hit it. It’s not going to be pretty