Gone in 4 Seconds Part 2

4-seconds, That's all it takes for a thief to steal your purse from right under your nose.

Last night, we showed you eye-opening surveillance tape.

Tonight, the rest of the story, what happens after your purse is stolen.

A local victim shares the painful lessons she's learned in part two of our special report "Gone in 4-seconds."


Laura Owens / Purse Theft Victim: "It felt very violating. It felt like somebody had my personal information. My home address is on my drivers license"

Laura Owens had her purse stolen in September while she and a friend were walking at Moss Wright Park in Goodlettsville.

Owens concedes she made herself a target.

"left my purse in the front out in the open in the middle of the console and we walked the 2-mile loop and toward the end of the trail i noticed my window was completely broken out"

Scott Couch / Fox 17 News: Owens is convinced the people who broke her window and stole her purse had done it before. She says the investigating officer suggested they were likely in and out in less than 10-seconds"

And it can happen even faster than that while you're standing right beside your car.

Watch as an unsuspecting victim gets out to fill her tank.


The driver of the other car opens the passenger door -- snatches her purse and is literally 'gone in 4-seconds.'

Sgt. Ricky Williams / Metro Police: "Immediately right after the crime, usually you find out they go to a store somewhere and immediately charge a big value of stuff up on yoru stolen card"

And Laura Owens says that's exactly what happened to her.

Laura Owens / Purse Theft Victim: "It was 218-dollars on my debit card in four different charges and two charges on my credit card worth 103-dollars in 30-minutes at the same store"

Owens says her husband closed their accounts by alerting the bank and the major credit reporting bureaus: Experion; equafax and transunion.

When she got her new cards, Owens says she wrote see picture ID on the back to increase the likelihood it won't happen again and that's not all.

Laura Owens / Purse Theft Victim: "One of the things that was suggested to me and that I've done is make a copy of the cards in your purse so if you ever have to explain the contents of your purse, you have those important items you have copies of"

Sgt. Ricky Williams / Metro Police: "What they're doing is waiting for that opportune moment to be able to get something. A lot of times, they're watching you before they act -- they know what you're doing"

So pay attention to what's going on around you.

Keep your doors locked, even when you're right there.

And when you're not -- put your valuables some place out of sight.

Because if you don't -- the bad guys will get them one way or another.