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Protect your vehicle from identity thieves
Posted on Jun 7, 2008 by Tom Fragala
Your automobile is a target of thieves--that is obvious. Of course, thieves will steal the car itself or valuable items inside, like your cell phone or iPod. That is bad enough. But the information inside your car--not just the car or the items themselves--can be of great value to identity thieves.
Your wallet or purse has everything from credit cards to insurance cards. You may have a laptop, PDA or sensitive papers like a checkbook or financial statement--these are treasure troves of sensitive data. But even if your car is free of all these things, think about what is in your glove compartment. Your insurance card and the car's ownership papers/title can also prove valuable. These have your insurance company, policy number, name, home address and more. Armed with that information a motivated thief could pull mail from your mailbox to build a larger personal profile or get auto insurance in your name.
A friend of mine parked his car in a driveway obscured by hedges and plants, on a quiet, safe street in a relatively low-crime town. He left his wallet and bag in the car, and sure enough, they were stolen that very evening. You never can be sure when a thief is sniffing around so don't take any chances.
Take away: always lock your vehicle, even if you are parked in a "safe" location or leaving for just a minute. And leave nothing of any value visible in your car.
Filed under: Identity Theft, Tips
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