Ladies, there’s a new reason to keep a closer eye on your purses, especially at the gas pump.

Police across the country are alerting women to be on guard when they go to gas stations.

Authorities say criminals are targeting women’s purses as they pump gas into their cars.

They say during the crime, dubbed “Slide and Swipe”, criminals watch for women who leave their purses on the passenger seat, doors unlocked and are distracted.

Police said thieves are looking for purses left unattended in a car. Then the crooks slide in and swipe them.

The entire crime took 19 seconds for a thief to open a woman’s passenger door and grab her purse while she focused on the gas pump.

“They say it’s sliding because they’re sliding below the eye level of the door,” said Jim Woods, a Houston, Texas police officer.

In another instance, a car pulls up and takes a peek inside while the woman is in the store.

While she was pumping gas, the man jumped through the driver’s side window, grabs her purse and takes off.

The woman never noticed a thing.

“A vehicle is not a secure location for your property,” Woods said.

Woods said the crooks hit across the city, watching for women who leave their purses on the passenger seat, doors unlocked and are distracted.

“That’s exactly it, that’s exactly what you’re looking at,” Woods said.

Woods said the burglaries can be stopped by women keeping their purses out of sight or taking it with them when they pump gas and always locking their doors.

(Source: News 13)