Woman’s Quirky ‘Anti-Theft Device’ on Handbag While Traveling Goes Viral

Internet users have hailed a woman’s genius trick to keep her handbag safe from theft by ensuring it’s attached to her at all times.

After having her purse stolen once in the past, Lucie Macleod, 25, took no risks when she and Lucy Ann Harte Palmer, 21, were exploring London recently. As she normally wears the simple, chic black handbag on her shoulder, Macleod wanted to make sure that it couldn’t be ripped off her arm in public, so she came up with a clever solution.

The inventive trick involved a phone strap that she looped around her bag and attached to her top, meaning the bag wasn’t going anywhere. The idea left Palmer in hysterics when she tested it out, but now she loves the added security, telling Newsweek that she “will be using this trick next time too.”

She said: “I personally thought it wouldn’t work, but it seemed to do the trick. Lucie didn’t have the right phone case to hold her phone, so instead decided to attach it to her bag then herself.

“Thankfully, we didn’t experience any theft or difficulty when we were in London, however, she previously had a bag stolen in Rome, so we were taking precautions,” Palmer, from Wales, continued.

As the duo explored London, Macleod felt much happier knowing her purse was secured to her body at all times.

Palmer couldn’t resist capturing a video showing the “anti-theft device” in action and shared it on TikTok (@lucpalmer). The clip went viral with more than 251,100 views and over 29,600 likes at the time of writing.

During the clip, Palmer tested the device and showed how the elastic strap stayed in place, despite her efforts to pull the bag away. She even joked that it felt like she was “walking my dog” as it looked more like a leash than a safety mechanism.

Having had a bag stolen before, Macleod says in the video that it’s “not happening tonight,” before adding, “I’d like to see you try.”

The TikTok Reaction

Social media users were full of praise for the genius invention, and the simplicity made it even more impressive. In fact, Palmer thinks it may have inspired more people to give it a try next time they’re exploring.

“Everybody has loved the video, and it seems as though others will be giving it a try too,” she told Newsweek.

Among the numerous comments on TikTok, many applauded the novel safety trick.

One comment reads: “It’s this level of genius that made her a CEO.”

Another TikTok user wrote: “This is so clever.”

“A true woman of genius,” added another commenter.

While one person responded: “this is so funny, imagine them trying to steal it then realizing they can’t and just having to walk away.”

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