We often find emails doing the rounds alerting citizens to all kinds of dangers. Some of these are hoax emails – and others are well worth taking note of.
The Arrive Alive website received an email from a regular visitor with a message and warning of signs of vehicle damage that might well alert us of other dangers. We believe it is important to share this message with our vehicle owners:
“They have a new way to rob you now! What will they think of next!
A friend sent me this email and I am sending it on to my Friends Wednesday, I approached my truck from the passenger side to place my computer bag in the front passenger seat.
As I reached to open the door I noticed there was a hole right under my door handle. My first thought was, “someone has shot my truck!”
I began to think about it and inspect it a little closer and the “light” slowly began to come on. I phoned my friend who owns a body shop and asked if he had any vehicles with damage to the doors that looked like a bullet hole.
“Yes, I see it all the time. Thieves have a punch and place it right under the door handle, knock a hole through, reach in and unlock it, just as if they have a key.
No alarms, broken glass or anything. I then placed a call to my insurance agent and explained it to him I was puzzled that they left my GPS and all other belongings. Here is where it gets scary!
“Oh no, he said, they want the break-in to be so subtle that you don’t even realize it. They look at your GPS to see where “home” is.
Now they know what you drive, go to your home, and if your vehicle isn’t there they assume you aren’t and break in your home.”
He says they will even leave a purse or wallet and only take one or two credit cards.
By the time you realize there has been a theft, they may have already had a couple days or more to use them. I didn’t realize my situation for two full days!
They even give you the courtesy of re-locking your doors for you. Periodically walk around your car, daily if you are in a shopping center or other parking area.
Report thefts immediately…. your bank w/missing check numbers, your credit card agencies, police, and insurance companies, etc.”
( Above is picture of what the hole looks like )
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