How a security guard should respond when a victim reports a stolen purse.

When a shopper or visitor runs up with a story about a stolen purse, the moment matters. Not the drama, not the name-calling—just calm, correct action that keeps everyone safe and ends up with a clear trail for authorities. This is exactly the kind of scenario security guards train for in Ontario, where the law sets clear boundaries about what you can and cannot do, and where your primary job is to prevent harm and get professionals involved when needed.

Let me explain the core idea first: your job isn’t to be the hero who makes an arrest on the spot. It’s to de-escalate, protect people, preserve evidence, and connect the right people—the victim, the suspect (if consistent with safety), and the police. The most trusted move in a purse theft report is to discourage risky direct action by the victim and to call the police for assistance. Here’s how that looks in practice.

Safety first, always

• Start with the basics: Is anyone hurt? If there’s danger, get people to a safe area. If the victim or bystanders are shaken, offer them water, space to breathe, and a quiet place to talk.

• Keep the scene calm. A loud confrontation can push emotions higher and push a suspect to bolt. You want people to feel safe and to give you reliable information, not a chase scene.

Don’t confront or arrest anyone

• The correct approach isn’t to arrest someone on the spot. In Ontario, private security guards aren’t law enforcement officers, and attempting an arrest can land you in hot water if you don’t have the right legal authority or sufficient evidence.

• Encourage the victim to stay back and let trained police handle the enforcement part. You can explain simply that you’re there to help while law enforcement investigates.

Call police, then become a helpful witness

• The next step is straightforward: contact the police. Provide the exact location, a brief description of what happened, and the time. If you have CCTV coverage, note the camera angles and the approximate time the incident occurred.

• While you wait for officers, gather practical facts. Ask the victim to describe the purse (color, brand, size), any distinctive features, and what the attacker looked like. Request details about what was inside the purse, and whether anything of value is missing. Note the last known direction of the suspect if possible.

• If there are witnesses, ask for their contact information and a quick statement about what they saw. But don’t pressure them into giving a long account on the spot; you can collect the essentials and refer them to police for a complete statement.

Document every detail with care

• Create a concise incident report: time, location, who was involved, what was said, what actions were taken, and what you observed. The goal is a clear, factual record that the police can follow.

• Record the victim’s statements exactly as possible, but mark any parts that you paraphrase for brevity. If the victim is upset, note that too—emotions can help investigators understand the timeline and the scene context.

• Note environmental details that could matter later: lighting, weather, crowd density, sightlines, and any nearby security cameras. Even small things can be clues to where the purse might be or who could have seen something.

Coordinate with your supervisor and the police

• After you’ve stabilized the immediate scene, touch base with your supervisor. They can confirm the process for securing the area, preserving evidence, and communicating with investigators.

• If the purse is recovered or found later, treat it as evidence until law enforcement advises otherwise. Place it in a secure, access-controlled location and log its movement. Don’t open it or rummage through it unless instructed by police.

Preserve evidence, don’t contaminate it

• Preserve the chain of custody: who handled the scene, who watched, what was logged. If you collect witness statements or take photos, label them with time stamps and note who witnessed what.

• Check for CCTV footage as a priority. Identify which cameras cover the incident area and request access from the facility’s security system administrator. The footage can be a game changer in reconstructing the sequence of events.

A quick note on Ontario-specific context

• In Ontario, security guards are licensed professionals who work under the Private Security and Investigative Services Act. The emphasis is on safety, de-escalation, and proper reporting, not on making arrests or taking aggressive action.

• Citizen’s arrest is a legal concept, but relying on it without solid legal footing is risky for both the victim and the guard. It’s far better to involve police who have the authority and the procedures to handle theft investigations.

• Your role is to support the investigation, not to replace it. Once police are on scene, you can provide your written notes, CCTV access, and a calm, clear account of what happened.

A few practical talking points you can use in the moment

• “I’m here to help and keep everyone safe. Let’s step back and wait for the police to arrive.”

• “Do you need medical attention or water? Let me check if anyone nearby can assist.”

• “Please stay in a safe area while we handle this. I’ll document everything and share it with the officers.”

• “If you remember any more details about the purse or the person, tell me. It will help the investigators.”

• “We have CCTV coverage in this area; I’ll coordinate with the team to review the footage for you.”

Common missteps to avoid

• Don’t chase or detain a suspect personally. It can put you and the victim in danger and may violate policy or law.

• Don’t instruct the victim to make an arrest or confront the suspect. This invites escalation and potential harm.

• Don’t ignore the incident or rely on hearsay. Involve the police and document everything with time stamps.

• Don’t mishandle the purse or its contents. Preserve the items as evidence until authorities advise otherwise.

Why this matters beyond a single incident

• The right response builds trust. A calm, professional approach reassures the public that you’re protecting them while respecting legal boundaries.

• It creates a solid trail for investigators. Clear notes, timely reporting, and coordinated CCTV review speed up resolution and increase the chances of recovering stolen items.

• It reduces liability. By sticking to policy and law, you avoid actions that could expose you or your organization to legal risk.

A gentle bridge to broader learning

If you’re exploring how security operations fit into Ontario’s wider security landscape, this kind of scenario shows the thread that runs through most incidents: safety, documentation, and police collaboration. You’ll see it echoed in other situations, from lost property to minor injuries, from suspicious behavior to access control breaches. The core habits don’t change: assess first, de-escalate, involve the right authorities, and document like you’re building a story that someone else will read later.

A small tangent that circles back

Many of us carry smartphones and the temptation to act quickly is real. It’s easy to think, “If I can just grab the purse back myself, everything will be okay.” In the moment, that seems heroic. But the safer, smarter choice is to pause, preserve the scene, and let the police do the heavy lifting. The histrionics of a moment fade; what remains is a clear chain of events that helps authorities do their job and helps the victim feel heard and supported.

Closing thoughts

A purse theft is a stressful, personal kind of incident. It tests quick thinking, but more importantly, it tests judgment. The best response is to protect people, deter potential danger, and bring in the professionals who are trained to handle this exactly right. Discourage the victim from taking matters into her own hands, call the police for assistance, and stay focused on safety, evidence, and accurate reporting. When you do that, you’re not just solving a single incident—you’re upholding the standards that keep communities safer, every day.

If you’re interested in how these principles apply to real-world security work in Ontario, you’ll find that most events follow a similar pattern: there’s a moment of tension, a choice that either escalates or calms, and a chain of steps that leads to a proper resolution. The more you practice this approach, the more natural it feels. And yes, a calm, methodical response can be surprisingly powerful—even when the situation starts with something as personal as a stolen purse.