Be Careful out There!
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It’s great living in a city where everyone is kind, respectful, and honest, isn’t it? Or it would be. It’s sad that it’s even hard to imagine. We all know we have to be careful with our belongings, and that includes locking our homes and cars. It’s a regular complaint and warning on social media like Nextdoor, “Someone got into my car last night… ”
By Liza Patty
We feel pretty safe here in Southern Gables but we occasionally see reports of vehicle break-ins, or more often things taken from unlocked cars here and in nearby neighborhoods. Opportunistic criminals, looking for anything of value, will even take personal papers from gloveboxes and car consoles. Often, these papers are taken so the criminals can attempt to open credit cards. If you have been victimized and had papers stolen from your vehicle, it is advised that you freeze your credit with the three major credit reporting agencies, TransUnion, Experian, and Equifax. You can simply google “TransUnion credit freeze,” and you will be taken to TransUnion’s website to freeze your credit. Repeat the steps for Experian and Equifax. This will prevent the criminals from opening credit cards or attempting to take out loans in your name.
The criminals can gain entry into your vehicle several different ways. One of the recent ways your vehicle can be accessed is through your remote key fob. This is called a “relay attack,” or “keyless car theft.” If you keep your keys near your front door, it is shockingly easy for criminals to wirelessly copy the code stored on your key fob and use that code to gain entry into your vehicle. The criminals are able to access the key fob from a couple meters away from the fob. To prevent this type of vehicle entry you should store your keys away from your front door. You should also store your key in a special pouch, which prevents your key fob from being remotely accessed. The pouch is called a “Faraday pouch.” It can be purchased on Amazon (or similar online stores) for about $10.00.
What should you do if your car has been targeted? First, take inventory of the missing items. Second, file a police report online. Here is the link to file a non-emergency police report with the City of Lakewood: Submit a Non-Emergency Police Report. You can also call the non-emergency number to request an officer be dispatched to your residence, 303-980-7300. Depending on the items that were taken, you may qualify for restitution.
Keep your car tidy and do not keep any valuable items or important papers in your vehicle. Report any suspicious activity to the non-emergency number.
Liza Patty is a Southern Gables resident who plays tuba, loves cooking and fine wines, and occasionally adds to the list of Fourteeners she has climbed. She is a member of the Southern Gables Neighborhood Association Board of Directors.
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