Wednesday, 23 August 2017

Identity Theft

It's hard to believe anyone would want to be me but this morning a report on BBC News adds another worry to my burden. Apparently identity theft is the increasing rapidly.
The person who stole my passport, driving licence, NI card, medical card, all bank cards and supporting documents and the technology to enable them to receive emails sent to my address is now in a good position to use my identity. Maybe they won't, but what can I now do to stop it happening? I don't know and our local police aren't likely to tell me. I will have to be proactive.
Since the two constables attended in the early hours of Friday morning I received no further contact from the local police until late yesterday. Five days after the event a detective phoned to say that they really don't anticipate doing anything more on the matter.
I'm not satisfied that the service I received was adequate.
A 4+ minute wait in a queue to have my emergency 999 call answered.
No attempt to ascertain whether I had any health issues that could be exacerbated by shock.
No attempt to locate a friend or relative who might provide support.
(And another thing ..... they didn't make me a cup of tea, and we all know from the many police procedurals on TV that a cup of hot sweet tea is an essential!)
Throughout the very efficient police process one constable was looking at his phone the other was looking at her laptop, they were seated I was standing, the technology was the focus and they did not make eye contact with me.
I was asked to sign a statement while I was still shaking and in shock, which I did, but since that time I have not been given any chance to read what was typed up on the police lap top between 1.47am and 2.00am. There has been no attempt to verify that the words captured by the constable truly represented my memories and perceptions of the shocking event. I did email and telephone to add something to my statement, but I wonder how many other people would not bother?
Neither the constables nor the detective have offered any advice on what needs to be done to protect against identity theft after a burglary.
As a 70 year old woman, newly widowed living in a very run down and shabby old bungalow, in a poor housing district I do not believe that I would be an obvious target for a person wanting to steal a top of the range Galaxy Edge, an iPad and an iPad Pro.
Nor would my identity be expected to support any significant credit.
So, was I the target? Or was the thief just passing and notice that the windows of this tiny bungalow were flimsy and offered an opportunity for forcing?
If this  crime was totally opportunistic then surely my jewelry and laptop would have been taken? Although the Galaxy Edge and the iPad pro are expensive they have nowhere near the value of my rings and other items that were on the bedside table too.
To me it appears the thief knew what he wanted, the specific technology that was plugged in to charge by the side window, and that was all he wanted. It is my belief that if I hadn't left my bag so close to the front door, in an obvious position, he probably wouldn't have searched for it. If I hadn't taken the Galaxy into the bedroom, because I was expecting a call he would not have entered that room and may well have not woken me.
The police don't share my opinion and so they will do nothing, and they are the professionals and I cannot argue with them. However, my background in fraud investigation and my knowledge of psychology coupled with the very personal interest give me a valid reason to consider the facts, as I see them.
Given that I am not am not obvious target for a thief wanting technology, who is it who might recognise me as an old woman with a passion for technology? It would have to be someone who knows me or someone who has been inside my home. I have no friends or family who would ever commit such a crime, and none living in Wisbech or who know anyone in Wisbech or surrounds. Nobody has been invited into my home other than tradesmen and delivery men. There has been quite a few of them through the house over recent weeks.
As the police aren't interested I have drawn up a list of all those who have been in my house and eliminated totally all but one man. There is an extremely small possibility that one person who quoted for a job but was not employed might be involved, but this is so unlikely that I decide to discard him too.
How else might a person know I had technology?
If they opened the six foot close boarded gate and walked down the side of my bungalow they could have seen the three items stolen through the large side window. How many people might have done that? Who can say? I can't. But I do know that one person did exactly that just six days before I was robbed. A delivery person left a small packet down the side of the house, without leaving a card through the door. I only found the packet when I accessed the tracking information online and was advised the parcel had been delivered.
I just wish that the police would eliminate this parcel courier. It wouldn't take a lot of effort, I have all the details of the company and the reference for the drop. But they won't.
I wonder if I order from the same company the same courier might come out, and I could have a squint?
Worth a punt?

No comments:

Post a Comment