Police: Be Wary of Purse Snatchers in Movie Theaters

Sometimes those with sticky fingers crawl along sticky cinema floors to pilfer purses, according to Philadelphia police.

Officer Charles Klein told the Ridge Park Civic Association Monday to be on guard against purse or credit card snatchers when attending movies at Manayunk's United Artists Main Street Theatre.

Giving the civic group a crime breakdown in the city's safest police district, 5th District community officer Klein said thieves survey the theater and go for unattended purses or those shoved under the seats. Often, they will only take credit cards and leave the purse.

"Sometimes people leave the theater and don't notice their cards are stolen until the next day when they find thousands of dollars charged," Klein said.

When going to the bathroom or getting popcorn, women should never leave pocketbooks unattended—even for a minute. Additionally, Klein said people should keep items on the seat with them, not under it.

—Sam Fran Scavuzzo