Your identity could be in jeopardy and it has nothing to do with the Internet or fraudulent emails. It can be obtained by a small, subtle hole near your car door lock.
Thieves use a punch tool or small hand drill to pop the lock. The hole is usually above or just below the key hole. Most car owners use keyless entry to unlock their car and may not notice the hole for weeks.
Car owner, Hamilton Barbosa noticed the tiny hole above his door lock after he noticed the thieves left his windows down. In the car, he had left an iPod, GPS and a radar detector. He says nothing was taken, but they were clearly after something.
"Obviously they went through the glove compartment, the trunk, first aid kit. They were looking for something," he said.
In the car, like most people, Bardosa leaves his insurance card and vehicle registration. Police say those are vital pieces of information most wouldn't notice missing.
"They're looking for their cell phone charger, their sun glasses, their CDs to be missing," said Det. DeAnna Greenlaw from Fort Lauderdale Police. "And they might not realize something was taken until later on down the road where they see their identity or financial info has been jeopardized".
Barbosa says he's read reports where the thief even locks the door on the way out to conceal the break-in. Most people use keyless entry to unlock a car, and an owner may not notice it for weeks, or longer.
Not only can a thief obtain personal information, they now know the victim's address. If your car isn't home, thieves may figure they have free reign of your home.
Det. Greenlaw said important documents should be kept in wallets or purses.
