In response to:

"So, have any of you absently put together a purchase and later realized later that your various items, when put together, could easily give standers-by the wrong idea?"


I am parked downtown in a highly visible busy area.I'm just chilling out listening to the radio. I had taken a long walk earlier in the morning. Backpack is in the back seat.

Part of my pack gear is a good pair of Nikon binoculars. Since I have a backpack in my car and binoculars laying in plain sight
on my dashboard, I must be casing the stores, so the police asked me after someone called them to report me. Asked, "What's in the bag ?"

"My cooking stuff". While his partner covered the other side of my car, I opened my bag. "It's Snow Peak titanium".

"Hey that's pretty cool"
The police did their job...took my ID....ran a check. I have zero record.

I have lived here since 1980 and now I don't want to park there with binoculars visible ever again. Keep the backpack in the trunk. I've been profiled.