So sorry this happened to you! Have you checked the dumpsters in the shopping center to see if your purse was thrown in one? That is a nasty job, I know.
My house was broken into last spring. The thief walked right past my brand new laptop and went directly to the bedroom where they took the drawers out of my mother's jewelry box (my dad gave it to her for Christmas 1946 with her engagement ring in it... I was more upset about those two little drawers than anything else that was taken), a small jewelry box with costume jewelry in it, and my flatscreen tv. There had been a rash of breaking/enterings in my area done the same way. Believe it or not, the detectives had my stuff back and an arrest made on all 6 burlaries within two weeks of mine. The guy has agreed to a plea bargain and will be serving 18 years. These were not his first. His record is a mile long, drugs, spousal abuse, behind on child support, check fraud, etc.
It is a very bad feeling when this happens to you, and even a peaceful person like me can be outraged and po'd. I am grateful that no harm was done to my dog (didn't have chickens yet) and that my mother's jewelry was put away.
The detectives gave us a few pointers which I would like to pass on to you.
1) Don't keep your good jewelry in a jewelry box in plain sight. Put it in a coffee can in your pantry, inside a fake book on your bookcase, or in a sock in your underwear drawer... just suggestions, be creative, but remember where you put it!
2) Copy the front and back of all your credit/debit cards.
3) Take digital photos of all your valuables and put them on a flash drive or on a photo storage site like shutterfly or photobucket
4) Write down the serial numbers of all your electronics. (very important to help them identify items!)
5) Chain up your bicycles to permanent structures, even if in your garage.
