WOODLAND – It happens every day in small towns and in urban centers. Wallets, mail and identities are stolen each and every day.
A recent incident involving a Coalport theft prompted Trooper Bruce Morris, public information officer with Troop C of the state police, to offer some tips to help people to prevent falling victim to these types of crimes and ways businesses can help to nab suspects.
“One of the simplest things is buy a shredder,” Morris said.
He added that when making purchases, people should “stay with their card.” That means watching to be sure that the card is swiped and is then returned to the card-holder. He also suggested outfitting credit and debit cards so that they can only be used when a personal identification number is used. Another tip is to be sure that people only carry the cards with them that they need from day to day, for example, one debit card and one or two credit cards. Others can be kept in a safe place at home.
Morris said stealing from vehicles is a crime he has seen on the rise and one that appears to be less of a risk for those doing it.
“It’s far easier to commit this type of crime than it is to walk up to someone with a gun or a knife.”
If one does discover that financial or other documents are missing or were stolen, Morris said the first thing people should do is notify the credit card company or financial institution or stop payment if the item is a stolen check. They should also contact the police.
On the business side, he said stores and shops can aid in fighting crime by installing security cameras and ensuring that those already in place provide a clear picture and are in good, working order.
“The security camera has given us the only information we have of what the actor looked like,” Morris said of the theft from a Coalport vehicle that led investigators to stores in Altoona to look at security camera footage.
Morris added that even if the cameras are never used inside the store, it could help investigators who are looking into something that happened in the parking lot, across the street or somewhere else nearby.