(no subject)
I kinda don't want to talk about this thing anymore...but at the same time feel like I have a responsibility to do so. If anything like what happened to my parents happened to any one of you because I didn't share my experience I would feel terrible. On Dec. 17 my family and I got on a plane to LAX, then hopped on a cruise ship along the pacific coast of Mexico. It was a fabulous time that will always be tainted by the aftermath. There of course was no cell service so we were not clued in until the 24th that anything was wrong.
On the 24th, we checked into a hotel in Torrence CA so we could visit family, my dad's credit card was rejected. After calling the company we discovered it was because they had flagged the account. There had been a purchase at a bar in Puerto Vallarta and a Portland gas station only hours apart. Luckily this caught their attention, otherwise we wouldn't have known anything until we got home. My mother had a copy of this particular credit card. She had left it at home along with around 8 other credits cards my family has, department stores and the like. Calling all of those, there had been plenty of activity as well. A neighbor confirmed that the house was torn apart and my father's car was gone. BUT! The police had found a car and gone to the house and found this all out and were awaiting our call because they couldn't get a hold of us. Upon talking to the police, we discovered it was not my father's car that they had found, but my mother's, which we had parked in long term parking at PDX. They had broken into that car, found the address from the registration, and gone to our house to clean us out.
On top of two car and identity theft they got all my moms jewelry, a tv, two computers, a stereo, random pieces of furniture, art, wine, food, prescription drugs, towels, tools, golf clubs, and my mother's Christmas gift. Theres more, but you don't need to know all of it.
So, I've learned two things. NEVER park in long term parking at the airport. It is a dead giveaway that you are not home and possibly won't be for a while. Security is pretty pathetic there. PLEASE GET A RIDE! If you are in the Portland area, I will do anything in my power to find you a ride instead.
Second, GET RID OF YOUR ADDRESS! The loss of a car is bad enough. Your address can be blacked out on your registration and insurance information without voiding it. If that makes you nervous, please carry this information on you instead of leaving it in your car. Make sure not to leave junk mail, or repair receipts that have your address in your car. Just please be aware of how scummy people can be, they will clean you out completely given the opportunity.
I was lucky. My information wasn't at the house, and my car was in the shop. (I never would have thought I'd be happy Gonzo was near dead) But my family is struggling right now to put their lives back together. Please please protect yourself from this if at all possible, no one should have to see their home torn to pieces.
On the 24th, we checked into a hotel in Torrence CA so we could visit family, my dad's credit card was rejected. After calling the company we discovered it was because they had flagged the account. There had been a purchase at a bar in Puerto Vallarta and a Portland gas station only hours apart. Luckily this caught their attention, otherwise we wouldn't have known anything until we got home. My mother had a copy of this particular credit card. She had left it at home along with around 8 other credits cards my family has, department stores and the like. Calling all of those, there had been plenty of activity as well. A neighbor confirmed that the house was torn apart and my father's car was gone. BUT! The police had found a car and gone to the house and found this all out and were awaiting our call because they couldn't get a hold of us. Upon talking to the police, we discovered it was not my father's car that they had found, but my mother's, which we had parked in long term parking at PDX. They had broken into that car, found the address from the registration, and gone to our house to clean us out.
On top of two car and identity theft they got all my moms jewelry, a tv, two computers, a stereo, random pieces of furniture, art, wine, food, prescription drugs, towels, tools, golf clubs, and my mother's Christmas gift. Theres more, but you don't need to know all of it.
So, I've learned two things. NEVER park in long term parking at the airport. It is a dead giveaway that you are not home and possibly won't be for a while. Security is pretty pathetic there. PLEASE GET A RIDE! If you are in the Portland area, I will do anything in my power to find you a ride instead.
Second, GET RID OF YOUR ADDRESS! The loss of a car is bad enough. Your address can be blacked out on your registration and insurance information without voiding it. If that makes you nervous, please carry this information on you instead of leaving it in your car. Make sure not to leave junk mail, or repair receipts that have your address in your car. Just please be aware of how scummy people can be, they will clean you out completely given the opportunity.
I was lucky. My information wasn't at the house, and my car was in the shop. (I never would have thought I'd be happy Gonzo was near dead) But my family is struggling right now to put their lives back together. Please please protect yourself from this if at all possible, no one should have to see their home torn to pieces.