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This brought up old memory of same happening to my hubby and I many years ago. We went for pizza and to play some pinball at a place in east Long Beach, CA.
Middle of the week and afternoon of a school day. I had a light shirt jacket and a purse that was popular back in 1970’s…hobo style fold over bag. We had our food and drinks along with my shirt on the table and playing a pinball machine right next to the table. There was a long haired scrungy guy in the restaurant with 5 kids ranging in age from 4 to 12. They were wild and running all over the place. I thought it was odd because none of these kids looked like they were related to each other or to him.
Not sure which kid, but I think it was the youngest one in to snatch my purse and took the shirt. Big mistake taking the shirt because I noticed my missing items right away.
We went out the door to the parking lot and blocked him from driving off with my things…there were other purses and personal items in the car.
They gave me my things, but the older girl actually asked if she could have my shirt jacket!
Next door to this restaurant was a Winchells Donuts and there were policeman parked there on a break. The hippy dude begged that we not say anything because they gave our stuff back. We said of course! As soon as he drove off we turned him in to the PD. The officers trailed him down the street and pulled him over. We drove past the bust just to be sure.
I have to say I was so pleased to turn that @ss in! These were not his kids. We thought perhaps they were placed in his or his girlfriends care and he was using them to steal. Learned my lesson about keeping my eye on personal items that day.