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Do you think I’m wrong to feel suspicious?

(14 Posts)
chicken Sat 17-Oct-26 16:41:24

A few days ago, my OH and I went to a local large supermarket where we had our flu and Covid jabs. Afterwards, I settled OH in a chair and went to get a few things that I needed, including a couple of ready meals for him in case I reacted badly to the jabs. I turned round with a ready meal in hand to put it in the trolley——-the trolley had gone, complete with my handbag.(Yes, I know it should have been around my shoulder where it usually is but I was so flustered after getting OH in and out of taxis and in and out of clothing that I forgot.)

I shouted “Someone’s taken my handbag” and a member of staff rushed over, asked what was in the trolley and sprinted up and down the nearest aisles but no joy, so she told me to stay where I was while she contacted security. I was in total panic as my bag contained my credit and debit cards, £100, my phone, specs and house keys.

A male staff member joined in the hunt and I stood there in shock for 10-15 minutes, then they returned with a woman pushing my trolley, everything intact, explaining that she’d taken it in error. Still shocked as I was, I was so relieved and the male staff member finished my shopping for me, opened a checkout just for me and OH and I went home.

It was only when I got home that my brain started working. The trolley abandoned by the woman had been standing nearby although I didn’t know this at the time, It was nearly full of beige items, bags of rolls, loaves, pizza bases. I’d registered it in my mind as a “reduced for quick sale’ trolley. My trolley had two brightly coloured shopping bags in it, and just a few punnets of fruit and broccoli, plus my handbag.. What my brain is saying to me is, how can someone push a trolley around a store for 10 minutes or more, adding items , without noticing that it was wildly different from her own.

Do you think that I’m being oversuspicious or would the hairs at the back of your neck be standing on end?

By the way, I am so grateful to the shop staff who were so kind and efficient. They even went over to my OH, who has a degree of dementia, to reassure him that I would soon be back.

Aveline Sat 17-Oct-26 16:58:16

Very helpful staff. Very odd thing for an innocent thing for a person to do but could just be a fluke?

winterwhite Sat 17-Oct-26 17:02:33

Horrid thing to happen mistake or not. Nothing you can do about it now, though. Try and put it out of your mind, easier said than done I know.

Retread Sat 17-Oct-26 17:12:13

If the woman had bad intentions, she'd have taken your purse out of your bag and left the store promptly. She must also have been discombobulated for some reason? Very unsettling, but tell yourself all's well that ends well.

Georgesgran Sat 17-Oct-26 17:20:20

I agree with Retread. Strange incident, but if she was dishonest, she’d have been off with your unattended bag in a flash.
Years go, in a hair salon, I saw (in the mirror) a woman putting on my Mac, ready to leave. I was out of the chair in a flash and she was very apologetic that she hadn’t noticed the difference, even though it was very obvious!

Please don’t overthink it chicken or dwell on the ‘what if’s’. It’s over and done with now and you sound a bit stressed, probably because your DH isn’t well?

Esmay Sat 17-Oct-26 17:23:18

Thank goodness .
I think that the lady was innocent-she would have taken your valuables and left .
You'd be amazed at the things that people do .
I left my dozing Father in a wheelchair to go to the loo .
Came back to no wheelchair and no Father in sight .
Another lady was happily pushing his wheelchair chatting away .

Cossy Sat 17-Oct-26 17:24:35

Retread

If the woman had bad intentions, she'd have taken your purse out of your bag and left the store promptly. She must also have been discombobulated for some reason? Very unsettling, but tell yourself all's well that ends well.

I agree and it seems alls well that ends well thanks

ClicketyClick Sat 17-Oct-26 17:33:32

Also agree with Retread. Happened to me and I was the 'guilty' party. I was so engrossed trying to remember what I needed that I just put an item in the trolley near to me and off I went completely blind to the fact it wasn't my trolley. The other trolley owner found me and we had little laugh over it. Just put it down to we ladies are usually having to think about 101 things

HelterSkelter1 Sat 17-Oct-26 17:37:27

Was anything missing from your bag.

Plevey08 Sat 17-Oct-26 17:53:59

ClicketyClick

Also agree with Retread. Happened to me and I was the 'guilty' party. I was so engrossed trying to remember what I needed that I just put an item in the trolley near to me and off I went completely blind to the fact it wasn't my trolley. The other trolley owner found me and we had little laugh over it. Just put it down to we ladies are usually having to think about 101 things

Glad to hear I'm not the only one to have done that 🤣

JenniRen Sat 17-Oct-26 17:54:54

Have you checked with the bank as well, chicken, just to make sure?
Perhaps she was miles away, doing her shopping on autopilot.

Esmay Sat 17-Oct-26 17:23:18
That did make me laugh! A case of dadnapping. I wonder how far she'd have wandered around before realising she had the wrong man? Or perhaps she preferred the look of your Dad to the man she took out with her.

Luckygirl3 Sat 17-Oct-26 18:09:46

Weird. Have you checked your credit cards and balance?

valdali Sat 17-Oct-26 18:17:47

Esmay

Thank goodness .
I think that the lady was innocent-she would have taken your valuables and left .
You'd be amazed at the things that people do .
I left my dozing Father in a wheelchair to go to the loo .
Came back to no wheelchair and no Father in sight .
Another lady was happily pushing his wheelchair chatting away .

I have to chalk that up as a daft thing not even I have done (& I've taken people in chairs now & then)

Taking someone elses trolley I do fairly regularly, but only when their shop's a bit like mine & never for more than a minute...

rosie1959 Sat 17-Oct-26 18:19:20

Sounds like you both had an off day. If the other person had bad intentions they would not be wandering around with your trolley and bag.