I know this probably is going to sound like common sense (it does to me too) but I was guilty of not following the advice I'm about to give and I want others to learn from my mistakes.

My car window was smashed last week while dropping LO off at daycare. I left my purse in plain view on the passengers seat. I was a very easy target. In speaking with the police, I learned that daycares in good neighborhoods are targeted locations. I'm not the only mom guilty of leaving a purse in a car while quickly running my LO into the daycare. Even though there is a lot of activity in the parking lot of other parents doing the same as I do, it only takes seconds to break a window, grab valuables and be gone. The parking lot even has signs up saying "under video surveilance", it doesn't stop thiefs.

I was fortunate in that none of my credit cards, debit card or bank accounts were accessed. So far there have not been any attempts to steal my identity. I'm out $380 for a window, the cost of my purse and it's contents and the time it took me and DH to shut down our entire financial wellbeing and get it re-started. I also had my phone on me so I didn't lose it (normally it is in my purse). I also don't keep any valuables (jewelry, photos, etc) or cash in my purse other than my wallet.

Here's my advice:
1) do NOT leave ANY valuables in plain sight in your car EVER.
2) have a credit card that only you or DH can access (we are joint on everything and had to leave one card open to pay for the window and in the case of an emergency until a different credit card was replaced).
3) do NOT carry your social security card in your purse.

I didn't listen to warnings like this in the past (any many of you won't either) because I always thought it wouldn't happen to me or in my city. I live in a suburban area that is considered "safe" by many. The daycare my LO attends is tops in the area. This was at a relatively busy intersection. Directly across the street is an affluent townhome development. Immediately next to the daycare is a senior home and next to it is a church. This isn't an area that screams "crime here!".