Thieves Are Getting Smarter

With the rise of new technological advances, travel and communication has never been easier.  Insurance also provides a safety net for our most prized possessions. Unfortunately, this new technology also makes it easier for thieves to procure and use our sensitive information against us.  Here are some helpful tips that may be used to prevent home and auto theft.

1. GPS

Something to consider if you have a GPS: don't put your home address in it. Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen. 
Someone had their car broken into while they were at a football game. Their car was parked on the green which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans.
Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and a GPS which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard. When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen. The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house.
 
2. CELL PHONES
 
Try not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list. Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc.
 
Also, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM by calling back.

When you’re being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them. If you don't reach them, be very careful about going places to meet 'family and friends' who text you.
 
People who have surreptitiously acquired your cell phone may use it to text family or friends for sensitive information such as bank accounts or pin numbers to debit cards. 
 
3. LONG TERM PARKING
 
Especially when leaving your car parked in long term parking, make sure to hide or lock your garage openers. Coupled with your GPS system, this could give thieves an easy access to your home and belongings.
 
Also make sure to remove or lock up any personal documents, such as insurance information or registration as they may have your home address information as well.
 
A couple parked in long-term parking on their way to the airport. Thieves broke into their vehicle, using the information on the car's registration in the glove compartment, they drove the car to the people's home in Pebble Beach and after using the garage opener, robbed it.
 

There are many simple preventative measures we can employ to make sure that our belongings remain in our possession. Theft can happen in the most unexpected places, and the best way to prevent it is to stay one step ahead.