Two personal property crimes in 30 days; what about the kids' SSNs

[Egret1986]

Four weeks ago, a few days before leaving for vacation, our garage was broken into while I was at home asleep with car in garage and dog barking. I work overnight and sleep during the day, and I just yelled at the dog from the bedroom to shut up. Actually, I didn't notice the theft from the garage, although there were some really noticeable signs that I blew off. My husband noticed as soon as drove into the garage (all the tools, power and otherwise, all our lawn equipment except mower, golf clubs, ladders, shovels, etc.) We were able to get a security system put in before we left for vacation. Could be wrong, but we think it might have been one of the subcontractors that were in and out of our house for several months and knew my sleep schedule.

Today, I was at the YMCA working out for about 2 hours. I came out and the driver's side car window had been smashed, purse in floor had been taken, along with the cell phone. By the time I could get home and call and cancel cards, 3 had been used for purchases at 4 different stores in the area.
I ended up missing work tonight because of trying to cancel everything and having the service disconnected to the cell phone, and not wanting to have my car setting wide open all night.

My two 15-year-old sons' social security numbers were written down in my wallet, along with some other personal info. I'm concerned about identity theft since they have these two social security numbers. Is there anything I can do about this or should do about this regarding these?

Any other steps I should take since they have a lot of my personal info (no social security number for me was in there)?

Geez, I just now remembered; there was also a spare key to the car in the wallet. They know where I live; so they could come get the car (currently, the security system isn't functional on the garage door). And of course, DH left this morning to go out-of-town on a business trip for a few days. Ho, boy!

 

[EAM]

I'd suggest contacting the SSA and the 3 credit reporting bureaus and ask what can be done to prevent misuse of the SSNs. Do the police have any recommendations?

 

[Egret1986]

Unfortunately, I didn't feel the police had anything to offer in the way of help

The officer who took the info over the phone seemed kind of short with me.

But your suggestions are excellent, and I will do as you have suggested. I'm kind of weary right now and didn't consider any of this. Thank you!

 

[Zac495]

What a bummer! The police really don't seem to have time for less than a rape or murder case. They are overworked, underpaid, and there aren't enough of them.......

 

[MULTIZ321]

Egret,

Here is some information from a previous Tug thread about what to do if your wallet/credit cards are stolen. Note the Social Security Fraud number too.

5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271

Richard

 

[Kay H]

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271

Richard

Richard,
Thanks for posting these #s.

I put them in my address book to have for future use if needed.

 

[pjrose]

A great tip for just-in-case.....

Empty all the cards from your wallet onto a photocopier and copy them front and back - credit cards, licenses, memberships, gift cards. Keep several copies where you'll know where to get at them but a thief isn't likely to find them.

If your wallet is lost or stolen, you'll have a complete list, and all the 800 numbers handy.

 

[Keitht]

Today, I was at the YMCA working out for about 2 hours. I came out and the driver's side car window had been smashed, purse in floor had been taken, .......

I know it's a mistake that anybody can make, but leaving your purse in the car wasn't the best of ideas and it may partly explain why the police officer was 'short' with you. The best advice, and something I admit to not always following, is to leave nothing on display in the car irrespective of whether you feel it has value or not. Thieves might assume that an old coat thrown on the back seat is covering something of value and break in just to find out! They may not get anything of value, but there's still a smashed window to get fixed.
Hopefully your run of bad luck has come to an end.

 

[KauaiMark]

Unattended bags of cash

I know it's a mistake that anybody can make, but leaving your purse in the car wasn't the best of ideas and it may partly explain why the police officer was 'short' with you. The best advice, and something I admit to not always following, is to leave nothing on display in the car irrespective of whether you feel it has value or not. Thieves might assume that an old coat thrown on the back seat is covering something of value and break in just to find out! They may not get anything of value, but there's still a smashed window to get fixed.
Hopefully your run of bad luck has come to an end.

"...purse in floor had been taken"
I was about to comment on the same.

I don't know how many times I've seen the same thing. Purses left in church pews, in the kid seat of shopping carts, left on counters and tables outside fast food restaurants "reserving" the seat while the food is being picked up.

When this happened to my wife at church, her comment was "Who would do such a thing at a church?" When it happened a second time, I think it finally sunk in.

Shitty people exist and are LOOKING for trustworthy people to rip off. They know the most promising signs of a payday.

Don't make it easy for them. Think like a thief and act accordingly to avoid being a target.

 

[PigsDad]

What a bummer! The police really don't seem to have time for less than a rape or murder case. They are overworked, underpaid, and there aren't enough of them.......

But they sure seem to have enough time to pull you over for speeding in a construction zone (read: fines doubled) even when there is no construction activity / workers present!

Grrr...

Kurt

 

[Egret1986]

Thank you, Richard; the only one I hadn't done was the Social Security Fraud Hotline

Egret,

Here is some information from a previous Tug thread about what to do if your wallet/credit cards are stolen. Note the Social Security Fraud number too.

5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card Numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an Investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

7. Call the 3 national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, etc., has been stolen:

1.) Equifax: 800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 800-6807289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line):800-269-0271

Richard

I was up all night, so I managed to figure out on my own to contact the three credit reporting agencies. Also, the had something on there to provide minor social security numbers through to check if any credit had been obtained in their names. Thank you, again.

 

[Egret1986]

I agree; they're overworked, underpaid and there aren't enough of them...

What a bummer! The police really don't seem to have time for less than a rape or murder case. They are overworked, underpaid, and there aren't enough of them.......

...and even though this one seemed extremely hateful and my Mom said I should call the Chief; I'm not going to fret over it. I'm too drained to even care about that. The car window's fixed; I'll finish up tomorrow where I left off today and get on with life.

From reading your thread, Ellen, about Zac; I know there are worse things and that this is mainly just a "bummer".

 

[Egret1986]

Great advice; it took a lot more time last night not having card and phone #s

A great tip for just-in-case.....

Empty all the cards from your wallet onto a photocopier and copy them front and back - credit cards, licenses, memberships, gift cards. Keep several copies where you'll know where to get at them but a thief isn't likely to find them.

If your wallet is lost or stolen, you'll have a complete list, and all the 800 numbers handy.

The police officer taking the report was asking for the card numbers, the banks they were issued through, etc; and I couldn't provide any of that at the time. Probably some of what I took for hatefulness was frustration at me for not being able to provide info at that time and being careless enough to leave a purse in a car.

 

[Karen G]

So sorry for these two crimes--but I appreciate all the good information that has been provided in this thread. I've copied and pasted it into a Word document to save in case I ever need it--and I'm praying I never do!

 

[Egret1986]

I agree and I knew better; and I've learned the lesson the hard way

I know it's a mistake that anybody can make, but leaving your purse in the car wasn't the best of ideas and it may partly explain why the police officer was 'short' with you. The best advice, and something I admit to not always following, is to leave nothing on display in the car irrespective of whether you feel it has value or not. Thieves might assume that an old coat thrown on the back seat is covering something of value and break in just to find out! They may not get anything of value, but there's still a smashed window to get fixed.
Hopefully your run of bad luck has come to an end.

Perhaps it was a lesson in life. I didn't learn the first time and it beared repeating. I had my purse in the car when the garage was broken into and fortunately they didn't go for it when cleaning out the garage. I was extremely thankful, and stopped leaving the purse in the car when it was in the garage. However, I continued to leave it in the car when at the gym.

I have learned the lesson now. For some reason, it always seems like I have to learn the hard way.

 

[Egret1986]

You're right! I don't know if it's being too trusting or laziness, maybe a....

"...purse in floor had been taken"
I was about to comment on the same.

I don't know how many times I've seen the same thing. Purses left in church pews, in the kid seat of shopping carts, left on counters and tables outside fast food restaurants "reserving" the seat while the food is being picked up.

When this happened to my wife at church, her comment was "Who would do such a thing at a church?" When it happened a second time, I think it finally sunk in.

Shitty people exist and are LOOKING for trustworthy people to rip off. They know the most promising signs of a payday.

Don't make it easy for them. Think like a thief and act accordingly to avoid being a target.

....little of both. Either way, I need to do better in protecting myself better and being more aware because these people are out there ready to take advantage of an opportunity.

 

[sfwilshire]

I know it's a mistake that anybody can make, but leaving your purse in the car wasn't the best of ideas and it may partly explain why the police officer was 'short' with you. The best advice, and something I admit to not always following, is to leave nothing on display in the car irrespective of whether you feel it has value or not. Thieves might assume that an old coat thrown on the back seat is covering something of value and break in just to find out! They may not get anything of value, but there's still a smashed window to get fixed.
Hopefully your run of bad luck has come to an end.

My husband left a single dollar bill in his truck in plain sight. Someone broke off a windshield wiper and used it to pry open the side window to get it. It cost him a lot more than a buck to have it all replaced. I don't even let him leave change for the parking meters out any more.

Sheila

 

[EAM]

Don't even leave a purse by a window in your home

Don't even leave a purse visible through a window in your home. Thieves have been known to smash a window with a pole with a hook at the end, hook the purse strap and take off before the homeowner even has time to respond to the sound of breaking glass.