RAYTOWN, Mo. -- At least two police departments in the Kansas City metro are investigating reports of criminals stealing purses outside stores. The purse snatching and thefts have law enforcement issuing a warning to protect yourself. Raytown police said over the last several months they've in vestigated five cases where people reported their purses stolen outside grocery stores. “I mean, he was running away and all I could do was stand there and scream,” Nancy Dempsey said. Dempsey was robbed outside the Hy-Vee in Raytown on November 27. She went to open the driver's door with purse in hand, when a man went for her bag. Dozens search for missing Independence man, last seen August 2024 After a struggle, he stole it and ran off. “I didn't realize how terrorizing that could be,” Dempsey said, “A thief in the night is terrorizing. So, I just stood there, and I was like, he's running off with my car keys, my purse, and I realized, I shouldn't keep a filing cabinet in my purse.” Dempsey said she’s out $500 due to the incident. She also said the thief spent $2,000 on her debit card at a shoe store down the street. Dempsey was eventually able to get that money back, but it’s been a challenge. She had to cancel all her credit cards and replace her ID. Dempsey now carries a smaller wallet. “Ask yourself, do I really need carry all this stuff, is it really my filing cabinet or could I leave the stuff at home,” Dempsey said. “But the other thing is to be alert. I was alert, until I got to my car, and then I stopped because I had this false sense of security.” Raytown police said they're investigating four other thefts. The latest happened here outside the Aldi March 8. Raytown Police said in all cases the victims were women, walking alone. They had just finished shopping. Detectives said the women were loading groceries into their cars, when the suspect either snatched the purse out of the victim's shopping cart or opened the car door and stole the bag. “I’m sorry that people are that desperate, if they'd come up and ask me for cash, I could have given them what I had,” Dempsey said. “I just don't appreciate them stealing it from me.” Police in Lee's Summit said they're investigating after a man stole a woman's coin purse last month. Sgt. Chris Depue said it happened outside this Dollar Tree. He said when a woman and child sat in their car a man quickly approached. When he got inside, the man made a grab for the big bag but stole the coin purse instead. When his attempts to order them out of the vehicle failed, he ran off. While these are generally crimes of opportunity, Depue encourages people to take precautions they can, like parking in well-lit areas and close to the business. “I would encourage people, if possible, seatbelt their purse in, there's usually a seat belt in that front compartment that way the purse stays secure if you don't have your physical hands on it,” Depue said. He also encourages people to create a routine for people step outside the store. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri “Let’s put the kids in the car, get them safe and secure, we put our purse in, get it safe, then start unloading groceries once the doors are locked and things are safe again,” Depue said. “Not to be paranoid, but just to create a routine that makes you safer and reduces your chances of being a victim.” If you do find yourself face to face with a thief, Depue said it's best to let your purse go. “We never want to encourage anyone to fight for their purse,” Depue said. “Let that purse go, protect yourself, protect your kids, it’s not worth getting hurt over your purse.” Police are still searching for suspects in these cases. ...read more read less