MaryMo

Great ideas here. Contacts on my cell phone are listed by initials or abbreviated names ... Charles is listed as Chaz .... so that if I lose my phone and contacts are called, the receiver cannot be correctly identified.
I kept car info (manual and such, including maintenance records) in my glove compartment .... after reading this, I'm moving it to the house ... keeping the manual in the car without any identifying info. I've also made copies of everything in my wallet, updating every 6 months. I do keep extra keys (3 or 4) in my purse but label them by random numbers and painted various colors ... only one of them is to my house, others are old keys to nothing in particular. My neighbors and I also watch out for each other and are quick to call police in something looks out of the ordinary .... one benefit of small town life.

Cagey

Funny this subject should come up now. I just received a call from my Credit card co. saying I had charges on my card for flights from India to somewhere. charges totaled around $500. I never use my card, don't carry it with me, and don't buy things on-line. Where they got my number is a puzzle but as you said, technology changes the way we live.

ArchaicArcane

I don't know if your registration is like ours, but here it's not a good idea to keep your registration in your vehicle for another reason.

When you sell your vehicle, typically you fill out the information on the back of the registration form and sign it, and the person who bought it takes it into the registry to register it in their name.

Here's the thing. They make you sign it nowadays when you're at the registry renewing. This means the thief has your car, and your registration with your signature on it. All they have to do is fill out the back and claim that you sold it to them and they're on the way to the registry to register it. Now it's your word against theirs.

ptquilts

I think they would have a hard time without the title, though.

ArchaicArcane

So your registration is different. Registration here is proof of ownership. Title. It's enough to sell a vehicle. Nothing else has to change hands (besides money)

tanderbear

Really if you think about it once you are about 30 miles from home you can find your way...I have my HOME on the GPS set at the local police department...if they think their smart, I am a little smarter....happy hunting...also for the other papers you need, with cell phone technology, I have them stored as a picture on my phone...or on a piece of paper in my wallet...I never leave my phone or wallet in the car.....hope they like the bars on my home.

helenhiwater

My daughter used to work for Verizon. When her phone was stolen, she reported the theft to the company. The thief tried to exchange "his" phone, got arrested, and she got her phone back.

Bneighbor

In our state you have to have your registration in your car. Our state finally got smart and now issues two registration papers, one with the home address and one without. Very good idea. Also have to have a copy of the insurance card. Our insurance company also sends cards with and without the address.

ArchaicArcane

I agree that the lack of an address makes a lot of sense. Having to have to have it in your car makes very little sense. Having insurance and registration on your person when operating the car does. I keep it in my wallet, in my purse which is always with me when I drive. I've never had a cop say, "why wasn't that in your glove box?", only "License and registration and insurance, please"

MargeD

Some important information to consider. It's too bad these people, who obviously are intelligent enough to figure out how to rob cars, homes and bank accounts couldn't find a legitimate job to do. Hopefully they will make a mistake and be caught and put in jail.