Going to the supermarket and loading your bags into the trunk of your vehicle is completely ordinary. But lately, this commonplace gesture could well become dangerous.
Whether to fill the refrigerator once a month, every week or every day, the French regularly visit supermarkets. While some consumers prefer online shopping or delivery, the majority continue to travel to choose their products from the shelves themselves. And every time, it’s the same routine; after putting their bags in the trunk of the car, they bring back the shopping cart and hit the road again to put the shopping at home… But according to the authorities, this habitual gesture could now represent a danger.
In Spain, supermarket customers have become the target of thieves. Police in Catalonia recently warned of an increasingly common parking scam. Several arrests were made in the Manresa region, but this type of theft could also extend to other public places such as shopping centers, gas stations or even public transport parking lots.
A video was even published to raise awareness of this new practice. The procedure is simple: while you are loading your shopping into the trunk, a stranger approaches to tell you that you have dropped something. Reflexively, you lean over to check. During this brief moment of inattention, a discreet accomplice takes the opportunity to search the front of your vehicle and steal your personal belongings: phone, wallet, keys, handbag, etc.
To avoid becoming a victim of this type of theft, it is recommended to lock your car while you put away your groceries and keep your valuables with you. It’s also essential to stay alert for suspicious behavior, especially if someone seems too friendly. Unfortunately, the increase in these scams pushes us to be even more suspicious every day, regardless of where we are.