What is in Your Glove Box?

Today at the gym, I noticed something interesting.  I was about to leave my wallet in my truck, because I didn’t want to go through the hassle of finding a “personal” locker in the gym to stash it in.  I thought about that as I was running (with my belongings safely stashed in a locker).  I spent around one hour in the gym today, as did most of the people in there with me.  A thief would have about an hour to open my truck, rummage for goodies, then disappear, before I would know anything would have happened.  What do I have in my truck that is of value to a thief?  Have you ever thought about this?  Some common things left in a vehicle:

CD’s

MP3 Players

Clothes

Sunglasses

Oil Change/repair orders

Insurance Card

Registration Card/Info

Garage Door Opener

Wait, Jonathan, those last three things are in every car, what value do these have to a thief?  What is on your insurance card? Your name, policy number, address, that information about you having at least the state minimum limits of liability, and how you need to keep this card in your car… Wait, address is on the card, your address.  Garage door opener and your address, oh, and what your vehicle looks like.  Looks like a great combination of items for me to break into your house the next time you leave.  “Wait Jonathan, I will know if you steal my remote for my door, I can change my garage door code as soon as I get home…” This is very true; however, why would I steal your remote?  I would clone it, and yes, your rolling code garage door opener and remote can be easily cloned and the “tool” to do it will cost me about $5 to buy at home depot.  So, I am sure you can figure out where I am going with this post, so let me cut to the chase, don’t leave your registration, insurance, or anything with your address on it in your car.  The registration, at least in Texas is on your windshield, you don’t need to keep the sticker receipt; and your insurance card is perfectly sized to fit in a billfold or a purse.  Keep your car repair history and oil change information in a safe place at your house.  Information is very valuable, and knowing where you live and an easy way to get into your home can be very lucrative to a thief.  Thieves are connoisseurs are all things portable, and that new LED flat screen TV is very portable!

Protect your information, protect yourself.  Coffee is brewing people; it is time to wake up!