My sleep was interrupted this morning by a frantic call from my wife, Heidi. “My car was broken into! They smashed the window and stole my purse with all my credit cards and ID!” While the missing IDs will be a headache to replace, I am so thankful to Capital One and Chase for quickly catching on and blocking the cards as the assailant tried to run up charges.
Chase + Capital One Quickly Flag Fraud, Suspend Credit Cards After Car Break-In
Heidi is a nurse and works a 12-hour dayshift a few days per week. Today was a work day and she arose early to use the gym before work. Despite the early wake-up call, she finds using the gym at 5:00 am helps her to get through the often-stressful day much more easily.
She parked in front of the gym and did her workout. She left her purse in the car on the floor of the front passenger seat. Yes, that was a mistake.
While still training, she started receiving fraud alerts via text message on her phone from both Chase and Capital One. No, she was not attempting to make a $266 purchase at CVS Pharmacy…
She went out to the parking lot and found the right front passenger window shattered and her purse gone. Thankfully, her nursing ID (in the cup holder between seats) was left behind, but her wallet contained her:
- US Green Card
- California Diver’s License
- German ID card
- Three credit cards (two from Chase, one from Capital One)
- One debit card
- Health insurance and AAA cards
- About $300 in cash
Opening up her Capital One app, she found that the assailant had successfully charged about $116 for fuel at a gas station about a mile down the road. He then went across the street and tried to make a purchase from CVS which both Capital One and Chase flagged as fraud and blocked.
How did the algorithm know? Was the guy trying to buy gift cards?
Heidi drove home and called the police, then Chase and Capital One. The gym is located in La Cañada Flintridge, where the median home price is $3,000,000 and there is often a conspicuous police presence on city streets. Perhaps that made the parking lot all the more a target?
I love our local sheriff’s department…they came right out, took the matter seriously, were extremely apologetic, created a detailed report, and promised to obtain surveillance camera footage from the Exxon station and CVS. What more can you ask for?
And I love that Capital One promptly reversed the fraudulent fuel purchase and both Chase and Capital One blocked the credit cards and have already ordered new cards for Heidi.
This sort of consumer protection via The Fair Credit Billing Act (FCBA) is greatly appreciated and not to be taken for granted: there are not such robust consumer protections in every nation.
CONCLUSION
A car break-in and shattered window was a horrible way to start the day. The time and cost to replace Heidi’s various forms of ID and to get a new window for the car will not be cheap…but I am thankful that Capital One and Chase so quickly flagged the fraud.
As for the perpetrator, what a shame theft is not governed by KSA shariah law…
So who wants to sign up for a credit card to help me offset the cost of the window replacement? 😉
image: Tim Patterson
They were probably hungry and just wanted some bread.
In other news, why aren’t black Americans thanking white Americans for the past? Nowhere do black people have it better.
Isn’t there a KKKmart you should be shopping at?
Gascon doesn’t prosecute criminals because he thinks that would be racist
Yep, LA voted for this. I’m sorry for Matthew’s wife because I suspect they have a brain when voting. Yet overall, LA is getting exactly what they deserve. It’s great to see.
If Matthew’s wife still has a green card, that means she can’t vote.
Correct. Germany makes it quite difficult to obtain dual citizenship.
Though I voted for Lacey and happily signed a petition to recall Gascon.
Yes, not sure how we got San Francisco’s reject. He will be gone next election. And the Sheriff is a lot more responsive in cities that contract them, different in the unincorporated areas.
Hahahahahaha!
Like *anyone* checks. Literally anyone can fly to LA and vote in any election, several times over. I mean, it’s been proven over and over again.
Don’t come for me. Do not. If you do, you agree to apologize when I post evidence. You know I’m right.
You need professional help no one can afford……
No. That’s not just untrue, it’s dumb
Yup, she can’t.
I have a better chance of finding the cure for cancer than her alleged evidence…….
Yeah, man. This DA is crazy. You can’t even leave a purse unattended in plain view in a car in a public parking lot in the middle of a city anymore
If only it were just that…
This is not an issue that’s isolated to LA or California… In Houston we are seeing the same things – especially at parks and gyms at all times of the day. I’m glad it was stuff that’s replaceable, but it is a big pain.
You voted for it, too, and thus get what you asked for. Deserve, rather.
Crime is worse (per capita) in states with Republican governors than Democrats. Now unfortunately you did have the idiots with the de-fund police stuff that certainly back fired on them.
Rich–your confused. It is the DNC run cities and states where crime is allowed to run rampant….San Fran,LA,Philly,Chicago etc……
Thank goodness Heidi is unharmed! AirTags tucked in wallets are sometimes useful as thieves often remove cards and cash, then ditch the wallet with the remaining items. So sorry this happened.
This is an excellent point and I have one for her to add to her next wallet.
Das ist natürlich Mist und tut mir echt leid für Heidi und die ganze Familie! Ähnliches kann uns allen jederzeit passieren.
Welcome to California!!
@Matthew: I have this conversation with my wife all the time. Why do they need to carry many unnecessary things on the wallets and purses than will only make things more complicated in the case of what happened to your wife.
Why in the world was she carrying a US Green Card, German ID card, Health insurance card, AAA? The first two had to be safe in your house. The other ones are available electronically and you can store in your phone. I am very minimalistic and carry only the absolutely necessary with me.
I’m sorry, I don’t mean to victim blame here, but it’s pretty irresponsible to leave a purse/wallet in your car, especially if it’s visible in the front seat… in a city… in a parking lot. Does the gym not have lockers?
IMHO, when you leave your car, you should always do a check – phone, wallet, purse/bags, GDO, lights off, and locked doors. If you do the first four but miss the last one, it’s not the end of the world.
Having said that, I do sympathize with you and Heidi. Getting your stuff stolen is incredibly violating. 🙁
That proverbially sucks. The green card replacement I imagine will be the one long process. The irony in all of this is how little the thieves get but how much leg work you have to do after to get everything replaced. Sorry for you both.
Wonderful that she’s doing well. I would be most worried about losing a green card. Getting it in the first place was much more effort than getting a CC.
Unrelated to this topic, If she’s in that area, I suggest going by Berolina Bakery. Your kids may enjoy an authentic Swedish princess cake for birthday.
Have enjoyed many baked goods at Berolina (and German food next door at Schreiner’s) over the years!
given we’re up in the Glendale/Pasadena/Flintridge area today and looking to grab breakfast/baked goods as favors for guests today, is it bad that this is the main takeaway I’ve taken from this
Lol. It’s okay Nick.
Sorry, that happened to her. I’m surprised the police are taking it that seriously. Most departments will usually do a police report over the phone and just say “There isn’t much we can do on cases like this” because they are understaffed and don’t have the resources to chase down criminals and in some states, the criminals just walk even if they are caught. Sad.
This is a reminder to prepare for theft by removing as many things in the car as possible except safety equipment in the trunk, remove papers with addresses in the car, and keep the interior completely free of items. The garage door opener should not be clipped to the sun visor.
James Bond had an explosive car theft device in “For Your Eyes Only”. Smash the side window and the car explodes, blasting away at the thief.
I carry my driver’s license separate from my wallet. Pickpocket or rob me and I still have ID.
1.Choose to live in CA and vote for anarchy.
2.Enjoy said anarchy.
I know you already acknowledged that leaving the purse unattended was a mistake, but did it have to be ALL THE THINGS in there? I’m surprised she didn’t have her birth certificate, SS card and 2 recent pay stubs in there, gaddamn.
@ Jan
Sorry, I require all things at all times. This includes tissues, passport, band-aids, snacks, and divorce papers, and the deed to my home. Oh, and some jewelry I haven’t worn for years. Also from living in Manhattan I also carry a fake throw down wallet filled with expired junk mail “cards” and some singles. I can’t speak for all women, but check the purse. LOL
There’s absolutely no need to carry a Green Card every day even though it’s technically required by US law. Mine is kept at home all the time unless I’m flying to Europe. Hopefully it’s not too much trouble to get replaced although having to go through all the biometrics (finger prints and photo) again will be a real nuisance.
“……even though it’s technically required by US law.” ROFL. You’ve got to be kidding me, right? With all the illegal immigrants running free out there you think this Government is worried about a legal immigrant carrying her green card?
I suppose the need for carrying the green card varies by accent and race. Ypi amd Heidi probably eon’t set off alarm bells for people but people with green cards from other parts of the world (lole Santastico) probably do.
That is 100% correct. I had a Green Card for over a decade before naturalizing and was never once asked for it, or even asked about my immigration status, in any situation. I”m a white professional who was educated in the US with a generic American accent. Once or twice when I thought it appropriate to clarify that I was not a US citizen no one in any official capacity even batted an eyelash; they treated it as irrelevant. I often wondered how many Spanish-speaking people who were born here were hassled or presumed to be undocumented when I was presumed native-born.
If I had been Southeast Asian after 9/11, you can bet I would have had my Green Card surgically attached.
My wife is asked for her green card every time we travel back to the USA – it is a vital travel document. And now I’m seeing that is will be $585 to replace it and take up to nine months. Ugh…
But how often is she ever asked for it outside of an airport?
Never. Technically, though, she is required to carry it at all times. Going forward, she will just carry a printout of it. Thankfully, I have digital copies of all the cards.
You don’t even know what a Green Card is.
Appreciate your insight into my knowledge of an immigration status I held without incident for more than 10 years of regular travel through US ports of entry.
You were never asked for your green card? Heidi has never been able to get a boarding pass to the USA without it (a lot of trips…)
Not true, but thanks for playing.
I’m pretty sure in my neighborhood there would be no effort to look at security cameras or even a decent investigation. Only VIP’S or influential people get that response.
My wife has a green card and we have it locked away, only pulled out when we travel internationally. She carries a picture of her green card on the phone. BTW, she applied for a replacement green card due to change in name 2 years ago. We are still waiting.
Is the process to replace a stolen green card quicker?
Heidi could easily have gotten her purse stolen inside the gym if she brought it with her. No respite from thieves.
Congratulations California. you got exactly what you voted for. Elect better people!
I know that Singapore is a polarizing topic with readers of this blog. However, here is an example of how Singapore works. Literally last evening, I was approaching a 7-Eleven in Singapore when its only on-duty employee was walking out of the front door. She didn’t lock the store behind her. I and others entered the store. At the counter was a sign that said, “Be Back in 5 Minutes–Toilet Break.” She was only gone 4 minutes and when she assumed her position behind the register there were 3 customers waiting to pay. Whether people do not steal because they are honest, they don’t have a need to, or because of a fear of prosecution, it still adds up to a good society.
Love this story and I love Singapore.
Asia as a whole seems very safe in my experience. except for traffic accidents im always surprised to hear americans being afraid of se asia.
sorry to hear about the robbery. its a scary experience. at least she wssnt violently robbed. loads of my friends in chicago have been robbed at gunpoint or carjacked
It is not about Singapore. It is about countries where law is enforced. Do you know what happens with someone that steals from the 7-11 in Singapore? Exactly.
If you try to enforce moral principles and law and order to decrease stealing, robberies, and break ins in America, our jails will be full to the brim, Our police force will be like the army patrolling the streets and all our Tax Money will be going to the “justice system” to remediate these law breaking, low life people.
Maybe initially, but if drug dealers and “smash and grab” thugs are shot Duterte or Bukele style, maybe behavior will change. It’s worth a try…
The 13th Amendment allows for slavery as punishment for crime (“ Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”). Maybe it is time to start putting these thieves to work rebuilding our infrastructure.
1. Like I have said in other posts: don’t go out at 5AM to jog. A gym is not jogging but it is the same principle. More things happen between dusk to dawn. Going to the gym so early is unnecessary. Safety first. Never take fitness to a level where you have to go out at 5AM.
2. I don’t know how it works for green card holders but your wife should carry concealed if possible.
3. Realize that certain groups are 5x more likely to commit violent crime and stop standing up for them or their causes.
This is a completely unacceptable position. Imagine being so beta you think we should accept crime.
The USA is moving towards The Handmaids Tale which has a large number of parallels with Sharia law so you’re getting your wish. It’s a little rough on everyone who’s not straight, white, Christian, and male but since I qualify for the privileged group it’s great for me. Then again if I were actually religious and had any pretense of following the teachings of Jesus I would have to turn the other cheek instead of hoping that the person who did this was mutilated.
Christian, I realize your comment comes with sincerity and good intentions.
First, I do not think the teachings of Jesus (turn the other cheek) imply a denial of justice or a need to grin and bear when being attacked. Rather than promoting pacifism, it means we need to humble ourselves and not be prideful.
Second, I’ve never been one to deny the existence of white privilege, so on that we agree. But I do not believe we need or should tolerate theft in this society. And I am willing to punish it far more harshly – the studies suggesting harsher punishment does not lead to crime attrition do not strike me as logically convincing.
And yes, I would execute thieves when there is violence involved and amputate limbs or enslave them when the damage is only against property. That’s not because of what I read in the Bible, but because of my notions of reciprocity and how to encourage societal flouring.
I can be left of center on many issues, but not this one.
Interesting. Without getting too spread out on the disparate point you raise I’ll simply address one: You say that harsher punishment reduces crime. Why does Scandinavia, where you don’t serve as much as 10 years for an axe murder, have such low incidence of crime? Some years back I was in Copenhagen and a female cousin told me that for a while young women had to watch out because there was a rapist about. A rapist? Just one in a city that size? I was impressed.
I love Scandinavia, but I see three huge differences. First and most importantly, much stricter gun laws. Two, a much smaller population. Three, a wider social safety net.
I also think the atheism that was the ultimate evolutionary outcome of the Protestant Reformation in these nations is a great paradox. Despite enviable progress in so many areas, the lack of justice in sparing the life of someone like Anders Behring Breivik is a blight on humanity and undermines the sanity of life rather than recognizes it.
>It’s a little rough on everyone who’s not straight, white, Christian, and male
Sorry, but someone has to say it: then move.
The people you’re vilifying built the country. Without straight, white, Christian men, Africa would not have electricity. Or, I bet, the wheel.
“Loretta” – You can leave my country if you don’t like free expression without hatred or racism. I can’t stand intolerant people.
I don’t live in America, you lard-ridden Wichser.
I do hope, however, that America completely collapses and that *immense* pain befalls the people pissing in their own nest at the moment.
I’m somewhat relived you seem to be getting cancer from boosters 4-6. It’s well deserved and hilarious.
That’s quite unfortunate. As others have said, it doesn’t seem sensible to expose all these documents to the risk of theft/loss/misplacement on a daily basis.
I am absolutely paranoid about my passport and it’s locked up in a safe deposit box when I am not travelling. Similarly, my main wallet only ever contains 1-2 debit cards and 2-3 credit cards so that I can easily switch to using other accounts if something happens to it, and the cash in there rarely exceeds £40.
La Cañada Flintridge, which is a few miles down Foothill from me, is generally quite safe but opportunistic thieves are everywhere and the idiot we have for a District Attorney doesn’t help. The biggest thing is to never leave anything of value in plain sight. Even dumping a jacket or a towel over the purse may have prevented the theft. I learned the same way decades ago with my skis being stolen after the window was smashed.
In fairness, this isn’t exclusive to jurisdictions run by Soros DAs. The area where I live, Collin County, Texas (a red county in a red state with a law-and-order DA) has seen an exponential rise in BMV-type offenses over the last couple of years. The common denominators – 1) unlocked vehicles and/or 2) valuables (especially firearms) left in plain sight. I grew up in a rural area where we frequently left doors, both to the house and the car, unlocked, even at night, a habit I’ve had to try really hard to break. While it would be nice if we could still do that, the reality is, that ship sailed a long time ago. The low-lifes and drug addicts looking for an easy score know the odds of ever getting caught aren’t high, given the sheer number of petty crimes.
We all make mistakes, but the sad reality is, our mistakes are almost certain to be cashed in on these days.
Chase and Cap1 weren’t protecting you; they were protecting themselves. Federal law protects you from responsibility from fraudulent charges. Chase and Cap1 protect THEMSELVES from a little bit of lost money by making YOUR life miserable on those 1000’s of times when you have to verify and justify your own attempted charges.
Matthew – please take more ownership of this situation. Or really acknowledge your wife’s truly stupid, risky and thoughtless behavior. Your long post with the very brief, “yes it was wrong” of her to leave her purse in FULL VIEW on the floor of the front seat is frustrating. And she was carrying all of those important documents.
And you’re a successful travel blogger? Oh my. Does she not read your blog? Does she not read the news? Is she completely clueless about the world we live in? So many questions. Does her gym not have lockers? Does your car not have a trunk?
Point your finger at your wife. Hold the mirror up to your wife.
Yeah, because it is TOTALLY the victim’s fault! Do you same the same things about rape and murder?
You’re an idiot.
It must be awesome to live a perfect life and never make mistakes.
Wait wait wait, what the actual …
Heidi did NOT make a mistake. It should not be a “mistake” to go to the gym in the morning, what’s wrong with you people?!
Dabs, I find your comment disgusting. To some degree, our pathetic state of affairs in this society means that valuables cannot be left in plain sight in a vehicle. But that doesn’t make the whole situation any less pathetic or invite scorn upon the victim.
If you lived in Colorado they would have stolen your car not just your purse. So proud to be #1 in car thefts in the US. Ironically the airport car lots are the worst for car thefts. Have to take a car service to the airport since it’s a lot cheaper than paying my deductible for a stolen vehicle.
So glad I do not live in California.
Hopefully California will re-issue Heidi’s diver’s license promptly so she can get back to the pool.
Do you mean saving lives, as she did yesterday for a 98-year-old patient?
Practically, she now drives with a police report (and broken window…) in place of a license.
We will get the window replaced tomorrow.
You spelled it “diver’s” license and I made an attempt at light-hearted humor – back in the (swimming) pool).
Ha! My bad. Thanks for clarification.
What a shame. Break-ins like that are so frustrating. I’m a bit surprised to hear you sing your general praise about the LA County Sheriff’s office considering the reports of deputy gangs that keep coming out. Perhaps the sheriff is improving customer service ahead of the next election.
If you really want something relevant, cover the rise in on-airport lot car thefts (the whole car) at UNITED hub DIA
“cbsnews.com/colorado/news/parking-denver-international-airport-car-thefts-auto-truck/”
I’ve done so:
https://liveandletsfly.com/stolen-vehicles-denver-airport/
So unfortunate the hear. LA Native. I’ve had my car vandalized on a few occasions. If nothing else, it not makes me more careful about leaving anything valuable in plain sight before walking away from my car.
TIP: Don’t get your window replaced by some mobile company like Safelite or similar. If its possible for her/you to drive the car, clean up the broken glass, and head over to Mission St. near DTLA. It’ll be cheaper to replace it at a shop there. The total price to fix will be cheaper than even the deductible for your car insurance plan. GTO Autoglass is my personal recommendation.
So unfortunate *to* hear…..If nothing else, it *now* makes me more careful….
(geez I gotta proofread my typing)
Richy, I appreciate this advice very much. Your recommendation is near her hospital. We will check it out.
Haughty comment on $3 million average home price is exactly why I stopped reading this blog regularly.
I was just making a point that despite expensive homes and heavy police presence, the break-in still occurred.
Lowlife have discovered there is more to steal by going to wealthier areas to commit their crimes. Frequently they come in stolen cars so they can’t be traced.
Matthew, I am very sorry this happened to your hard-working wife who was simply trying to start her day in the best mental place possible before saving lives and serving people. I have lived in the La Cañada/Flintridge area, and that’s an area where one should be able to pop in a gym and not worry about this sort of thing. Sure, we don’t want to leave our things in cars, but we are all human. It happens. Blaming a victim, like some of these posts, is wrong. I am just sorry. What a lousy way to start a day, to return from a summer abroad–and also to have to replace so many important documents. This just STINKS. And it’s the fault of one (or more) person: THE CRIMINAL who did it. I pray Heidi recovers from the mental yuck this naturally would place on any person, and I also pray for ease in replacing things like the Green Card and German ID card. While I don’t wish for Sharia law, I wish we didn’t have a culture turning so rotten that we even considered it could be viable to consider it–if that makes sense.
Appreciate your comment. Are you a doctor in the area?
I grew up in the area, but have since moved to the center of the country. I am a PhD, and live in hotels, rather than a house, etc, so my tagline is “the doctor is out” because my students call me “Dr. T” (last name).
I continue to pray for your family in this time!
Here in the San Francisco Bay Area where I live, there are car break ins that happen in broad daylight, and there is NO police response. No I’m debating on whether I should park my car at one of the airport parking lots with nothing in the car and maybe leave the window down part way?
Sad.
@tony N I’ve seen people walk into stores in downtown SF and simply walk out with things without paying. One guy took some beer and just walked out. I felt like a fool paying the cashier for my purchases. Apparently others did not feel compelled to do the same.
@Matt,
I share your pain!!
My state just exposed six million driver’s license & auto registration records with all the pertinent info (SS#, name, address, DOB, license #, driver photos, etc) via a corrupt file transfer via a 3rd party vendor. Then I just go a notice from an insurance agency that my SS# was compromised.
I have Lifelock, but it only looks at one of the credit agencies.
You may want to run a credit history report in a week or two to assure no new credit cards or and auto loan has been issued in your wife’s name.
You’re “liucky” she was not attached to the purse like my dear Neice in Chicago while leaving Classes for her PracticumTraining in her College Nursin Program at a Chicago Hospital when one og Chicago’s finest punks ripped it off her shoulder while she was also sporting a Back Pck full of books! Result – disloacated shoulder and broken arm! And she wants to “help people”! Proud of her , but Society, Government, and Law Enforcement needs fixing, SOON!
This blog post addresses a concerning issue: credit card fraud following a car break-in. It serves as a reminder of the ripple effects of theft and the importance of taking swift action to protect one’s financial information. It’s a cautionary tale that underscores the need for vigilance in today’s digital age.