KGVY Radio, Monday, June 30, 2008

Green Valley Sheriff’s Auxiliary Volunteers

Bill Roskey

A number of people have reported lost items to SAV this past week, ranging from wallets to expensive jewelry, so be careful when you’re running errands. When you leave a place of business or some other location, make sure that you still have all the items you had when you came in.

Last week there were also thefts in Green Valley involving motor vehicles. One resident’s flatbed trailer was stolen from the back parking lot in Continental Mall. It was 12 feet by 4 feet and valued at $3,000. In addition, a compartment on the trailer contained about $2,000 work of tools, including a miter saw, a table saw, a nail gun, and an air compressor. In another case, a woman’s purse was stolen from her unlocked car in her driveway. Among other things, the purse contained cash, a credit card, and her driver’s license. Some makeup items that had been in the purse were found several houses away by a neighbor. In still another case, someone stole a man’s billfold from the glove compartment of his unlocked car.

SAV urges Green Valley residents to lock their vehicles at all times. Just because your car is parked in front of your house or even in your own driveway, doesn’t mean there’s no need to lock it. Items are often stolen from cars in people’s driveways, even during daylight hours. Also, it’s best to take your wallet or purse with you whenever you leave your vehicle.

Finally, as a number of Green Valley residents have found firsthand, Arizona leads all other states in identity theft. The Arizona Attorney General’s Office has published an excellent booklet called The Identity Theft Repair Kit. It offers complete step-by-step instructions on how victims of identity theft can restore their credit ratings and avoid liability for fraudulent actions by identity thieves. It also discusses ways to prevent identity theft. It’s available as a printed booklet from the Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-352-8431, and can also be read and downloaded from the Attorney General’s website at www.azag.gov.