When out and about shopping it is easy to become very distracted by the glorious outfits, flashy displays and tempting discounts, and leave yourself vulnerable. The following pieces of advice are recommended by the police and security firms to help make sure your shopping experience is one to remember and not one to forget.

The first tip is to always make sure that your bag or handbag is carried close to you - over the shoulder is a good idea, with your arm covering it. Keep your eye open, and be aware of other people around you, particularly anyone you think who either looks a little suspicious or seems to be taking an interest in you or your bag. If the worst happens and your bag does get snatched, resist struggling as this is only likely to result in you being injured. Once someone has taken the decision to grab your bag they will do anything to make sure that the decision pays off, and may well become desperate. This could result in unintentional physical injury to you, which could last far longer than the inconvenience of having to phone your credit card company and fill in your insurance claim.

If you do become a victim, make sure that you get a good look at whoever took your bag. Think about their face, size and clothes. Clothes can be changed easily, so think about features that might make them easily recognizable.

Obviously it is preferable to prevent yourself becoming a victim in the first place, so make sure that wallets, handbags and purses aren't left in places where they can easily be taken, such as on top of your shopping, even for a moment. A second is all it takes to grab your purse, so don't risk it.

When you do go shopping, avoid carrying large sums of money with you. If your wallet or purse is stolen, not only will this add to the inconvenience and loss, but may bring into question why you had so much money on you at all. If you do have a lot of money on you, it may well show in your face, as you exercise excessive caution. This may well draw attention towards you, rather than the reverse.

Often people carry wallets and purses in the back pocket of their trousers. This is a bad idea because these pockets rarely have tops or zips, and due to their simple design are very easy to remove items from. Wallets will probably stick up out of the top of the pocket and can be slid out very easily. In addition to which, you're not going to see the person eyeing up your back pocket, and they will have the element of surprise, because when they take your wallet they will probably be facing away from you, and ready to run. By the time you have realised your wallet has been taken and you turn around, they will already be disappearing into the crowd.

If you use cash machines, be very wary of what is going on around you. If you suspect someone is paying a little too much attention, or you simply feel uncomfortable, simply hit the cancel button, take your card and walk away. The safest kind of cash machines are those inside the banks themselves. These are still self service machines, but with greater privacy. Always take care when entering your PIN, and when the money is given to you, put it away straight away. Don't turn and start walking away with the money still in your hand. Make sure it is secure before you leave the booth.