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Take care to avoid theft

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  • Originally published July 25, 2008 at 6:34 p.m., updated July 25, 2008 at 6:34 p.m.

Editor, the Advocate:

My purse was stolen from my car, and I am sharing this experience in hopes that it will prevent it from happening to other people. I made a stop, doesn’t matter where because it can obviously happen at any place, turned off my car, locked it and walked inside. I was inside for about five minutes. When I came out, my window was laying in the passenger seat. I looked only to find my purse and wallet gone.

Now, here is what to do if this unfortunately occurs: Call the police. Call your bank ASAP and cancel any debit cards tied to your bank accounts and put stop payment on any checks that are in your checkbook. Close the accounts or ask them to change it to “freeze status.” Call your credit card companies ASAP and report credit cards as stolen. Go online to Equifax or one of the major credit bureaus and put a 90-day alert on your Social Security number, if you carried the card with you. Call Telecheck. They will need the routing number and checking account number. They will put a freeze on the account also. Replace your driver’s license. Replace your Social Security card(s). To replace a minor’s card, you will need a copy of their shot record signed by the doctor. In hindsight, just take the card(s) out of your wallet and leave at home. There is this new billing system on line called Bill Me Later. Call them also just to be safe. Search the Internet if you have not heard of this.

So this doesn’t happen to you, take your purse with you and carry as little information in your wallet as possible. The less that is there, the less they have to use. Also, turn your car off! I have since witnessed two people who ran in and left the car running and unlocked. If your car has an alarm, go ahead and set it.

Businesses, please ask to see driver’s licenses. The locations that took my stolen checks and credit cards did not ask for any type of identification. It may be annoying, but it only takes a minute.

Everyone, please be more cautious. I hope this letter helps if this happens to anyone else. Mostly, I hope this letter will help prevent this from happening to anyone else.

Jennifer Fox

Victoria



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