Quote Originally Posted by iris lilies View Post
I have a story about this from my youth. I was in graduate school and I left my bag on the table in the big
University library. I never had anything of worth in the bag, that’s why I didn’t worry about it. It was Library policy (I didn’t know it) for them to seize unattended purses and bags and take them to their security office.

So, when I came back to the table my purse was gone. I asked library employee about it and they said yeah it’s in the security office but that’s now locked up for the weekend. It was Friday night. I couldn’t get my bag until Monday morning. So that was annoying! I think the only thing that was a problem with a key to get into my room and it was in a dorm so there were other ways to get in.
But yeah, annoying. I don’t know if it was concern for theft that prompted the policy or if it was concern about explosive devices in unattended bags.Probably both.
Interestingly, I have had my wallet and/or pocketbook stolen about 4 times (in my 20s, working in NYC), and EVERY time, my wallet was on me, or at arm's length. It was never when I had left it alone. I'm not saying that you should just leave your purse unattended, but having it on you is no guarantee it's safe, either.

I think Golde Hawn said something like, "I would rather trust people and risk losing something than live my life in fear and suspicion."