I was at Hippo playground Riverside park on 90 street in manhattan on Friday afternoon, May 27. Lots of nannies gets paid on fridays right? I leave the stroller next to the sand box and I sit down in the sandbox with my charge.I put my bag that is stuffed with bananas, magazines, a sweater etc in the stroller so I can keep an eye on it. When I leave the playground I have spent about 90 minutes there. On my way back to the childs house I reach into my bag and realise my wallet is gone. Who goes to the playground and steal from other nannies? Do nannies do this? Do mothers do this? Has anyone else lost their wallet in the playground or am I the only lucky one? I lost about $100 in cash but I lost my european driving licence which is my main concern. I feel so stupid for thinking a playground is a safe place. Im stupid for thinking that people dont want to steal from me. So to all your nannies out there: hold on to your money!
I always leave my wallet (usually my whole bag) locked in my car if we are going to the playground or somewhere else where I can't hold it the whole time. You never know. Just because it was perhaps stolen at a playground does not mean that a nanny or mom took it, it could have been a passerby criminal! In any case I see you probably walked to the playground, next time leave your wallet locked up in your bosses house. I don't really know what you mean when you say lots of nannies get paid on Fridays? Most everyone gets paid on Friday and I don't see what this has to do with your wallet being stolen.
ReplyDeleteOP probably mentioned Friday because that's payday. This means thieves are more likely to score money on Fridays.
ReplyDeleteGet a tiny wristlet, throw your cash, cards, and cell phone in that. Let me tell you if it's not red hot or nailed down they are gonna swipe it! Good Luck!
ReplyDeleteThe Hippo playground is large and gets very busy, with all the unattended strollers and bags it's probably a thief's paradise. A few years back someone walked off with my bag which was hanging on the back of my chair at Starbucks...that incident taught me a big lesson: don't ever leave your bag/wallet unnattended wherever you are, it doesn't matter whether you're in the playground.... it's a busy public place!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry that happened to you, OP. I don't bring my wallet when I take the kids out, because it's too hard to keep track of my whole purse in addition to the kids! I usually just stick some cash in my pocket if needed.
ReplyDeleteThank you OP for bringing this to my attention. I NEVER bring money to the playground since my charges are very active and usually run from one end of the playground to the other.
ReplyDeleteI think it is very important to leave big bills at your charges house. I may stick a five in my pocket for a snack. I agree that just because the atmosphere at a playground is family-oriented...in no way does that mean it is safe. What a sad state of affairs today....:(
Unfortunately, this happens everywhere. I see women leave their purses on their shopping carts unattended. Anywhere in public, take your wallet/purse with you. My SIL had her purse taken from the front seat of her car while she was loading the trunk at Costco.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry! It could happen anywhere but never leave your money where someone could get it. Either keep it on you, lock it in the car or leave it at the house. Some people just prey on areas where they can steal things and this is probably one of those areas. I am so sorry this happened to you!
ReplyDeleteI've always been paranoid about getting my things stolen. I even worry about my apartment being burglarized when I'm gone for a few days! I'll be a first time nanny this fall, and I guess I'll be putting my small shoulder-strap purse to good use; I'll never have to take it off & my hands will be free :)
ReplyDeleteIt really sucks when someone has to learn this lesson the hard way. When I take the kids to the playground, I only put snacks, diapers or whatever other essentials in the diaper bag. Then I put my keys and phone in my pocket and my purse in my trunk. I guess that doesn't really work for you guys who don't drive everywhere though. To answer your question, I have no doubt in my mind a nanny or mother would swipe a wallet. Maybe even just for the pure thrill of it. Do you think you'll be able to get a replacement license? Hope it works out.
ReplyDeleteIf you lock your bag in your car put it out of sight! We were at a national park, I thought remote and families only, so kept locked bag in my car in plain sight. They broke a window and took it.
ReplyDeleteI guess growing up in a big city (Philly), I'm extra cautious, even though I haven't lived in the city since 1993. I don't believe in leaving my things unsupervised and I don't believe in leaving car or house doors unlocked, even when I'm in them.
ReplyDeleteI was very upset that I am careless about my money so I posted this even though I realise it makes me look like a complete idiot.
ReplyDeleteI work for another family in the mornings, so thats were my comment "nannies get paid on friday" came from. The money I got on friday morning I never put in my wallet, so at least I didnt lose that much money.
Then after I finished job 1, I walked 7 blocks downtown to pick up another child from a class at Gymboree. So instead of walking 25 blocks uptown to drop off my bag at their home, I went straight to the playground.
Of course I shouldn't leave a bag with so much money in the stroller, but since the child doesn't even walk yet, and I was so close to the stroller I didn't realise how stupid it was.
When we went to the swings, I brought the stroller with me.
Thanks everyone for your kind words.
I keep my my stuff in a small cross body bag only bec i can wear it constantly but I left my kid's knapsack (dabawalla kind, not cheap) with his favorite stuffed animal at the playground on W 100th (Tarr Family PG)
ReplyDeleteHis ID card and a bubble label with our phone number was in several places. I really thought a mom or nanny might call me and I would pick it up... I know, i am a crazy optimist, but nope, didn't happen.
But had I found it, I would have returned it in a heartbeat.
I sort of see us as in this altogether, and stealing is just plain wrong, even from each other.