Thom Ruben

CRIMINALS ARE NOT STUPID !!!
March 5, 2013 ·  

We are becoming evermore dependent on our everyday electronic devices and overly complacent about our security and safety.  Criminals aren’t stupid, but they are capitalizing on your own complacency and reliance on electronic gadgets. To ensure that you don’t become victim to someone burglarizing your home or making off with your hard earned money some simple behavior modifications might be overdue.  Most start with basic common sense, however here are some local examples, which might just get you to start thinking about your own habits.

 

1. TAKING A TRIP…

A friend of a friend had left their car with a ‘Del Monte Forest’ placard in the long-term parking at San Jose airport while away.  Someone broke into the car, using the information on the car’s registration in the glove compartment, they drove the car to the couple’s home in Pebble Beach, used the gate and garage remote and robbed it.

If you are going to leave the car in long-term parking, you should not leave the registration/insurance cards in it, nor your remote garage door opener.  Even better get a ride to the airport from a friend.

This gives us something to think about with all our new electronic technology.

2. GPS…

A couple of weeks ago a friend told me that someone he knew had their car broken into while they were at a SF 49’er game.  Their car was parked on the lot, which was adjacent to the football stadium and specially allotted to football fans.  Things stolen from the car included a garage door remote control, some money and the GPS, which had been prominently mounted on the dashboard.  When the victims got home, they found that their house had been ransacked and just about everything worth anything had been stolen.  The thieves had used the GPS to guide them to the house.  They then used the garage remote control to open the garage door and gain entry to the house. The thieves knew the owners were at the football game, they knew what time the game was scheduled to finish and so they knew how much time they had to clean out the house.  It appeared that they had brought a truck along to empty the house of its contents.

Something to consider if you have a GPS – don’t put your home address in it… Put a nearby address (like a store or gas station) so you can still find your way home if you need to, but no one else would know where you live if your GPS were stolen.

3. MOBILE PHONES

This lady has now changed her habit of how she lists her names on her mobile phone after her handbag was stolen.  Her handbag, which contained her cell phone, credit cards, wallet, etc., was stolen. 20 minutes later when she called her husband, from a pay phone telling him what had happened, ‘hubby’ says “I got your text asking about the PIN number and I replied a little while ago.”  When they rushed down to the bank, the bank staff told them all the money was already withdrawn.  The thief had actually used the stolen cell phone to text ‘hubby’ in the contact list and got hold of the pin number.  Within that short timespan he had withdrawn all the money from their bank account.

Moral of this lesson:

a. Do not disclose the relationship between you and the people in your contact list.  Avoid using names like Home, Honey, Hubby, Sweetheart, Dad, Mom, etc….

b. And very importantly, when sensitive info is being asked through texts, CONFIRM it by calling back.

c. Also, when you’re being texted by friends or family to meet them somewhere, be sure to call back to confirm that the message came from them.  If you don’t reach them, be very careful about going places to meet ‘family and friends’ who text you.

Even if none of this pertains to you….Someone you know might benefit from it!

Thom Ruben
truben.prucal.com

Thom Ruben Thom Ruben (6 Posts)

Thom is a Bay Area Native that grew up in the Rockridge area of the Oakland hills graduating from Bishop O'Dowd High School in 1982. Thom spent 14 years in Hospitality throughout Europe and the US after graduating from Hotel & Restaurant Management School in Switzerland. He returned to Switzerland in 1998 for Business School to get his MBA. After graduating he worked for Prudential Financial in Zurich before starting his own venture with numerous single family residential Real Estate restoration projects. Thom returned to his native Bay Area in 2011 and staying true to his passion for Real Estate projects he became a licensed Realtor in 2012. Having worked for Prudential Financial in Zurich it was only natural that he join the Prudential California Realty team. He has a passion for first time buyers and extensive experience with home renovations, upgrades, landscaping, pools and other home related projects. His primary focus is the San Francisco Peninsula, specializing in Burlingame and Hillsborough where his family has lived since 1985, however he likes to include South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Foster City and Redwood Shores to his home turf. His other passions include, Cooking, Tennis, Fishing, Cycling, Skiing, his lapdog Doberman and of course his Porsche!


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Comments

5 Responses to “CRIMINALS ARE NOT STUPID !!!”

  1. Karin on March 5th, 2013 3:10 pm

    Wow, Thom! That is an awesome blog! Those are things I had not thought of! I am going to share this with everyone I know! Thanks!

  2. Brian Boisson on March 5th, 2013 3:38 pm

    Thom,

    Great tips that honest people wouldn’t even think about!

    Brian Boisson
    Prudential California realty

  3. Larry Franzella on March 7th, 2013 9:53 am

    Thanks for the tips!

    Larry Franzella
    Prudential California Realty

  4. Shokoofeh Nowbakht on April 25th, 2013 6:35 pm

    Oh My Goodness! This is scary. thanks for the lessons. Thanks

  5. Thom Ruben on April 25th, 2013 7:45 pm

    Its not scary, It’s reality!!!
    Should you feel the need for an outside opinion to gain different perspective on your personal and home security, feel free to contact me at anytime!

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