| These days, many women seem to carry everything | | | | card companies to report the theft. If you haven't |
| but the kitchen sink in their purse. Even guys carry | | | | already, now is a great time to copy the fronts and |
| more and more of the essentials in their pocket or | | | | backs of every card in your wallet so that in the event |
| wallet. When your purse or wallet is stolen, it can mean | | | | if a theft, you'll know exactly what was stolen and |
| a major upheaval in your daily life, as you're now left | | | | who to contact. |
| without all of these necessities. Besides the problems | | | | 5. Contact the three credit reporting agencies. |
| carrying out your day-to-day activities and getting | | | | Experian, Equifax, and Trans Union can place a fraud |
| around without a credit card or money, you're also | | | | alert on your account, so that attempts to obtain your |
| faced with the potential of identity theft. If you've been | | | | credit information for any reason will be "red flagged." |
| the victim of a mugging or purse-snatching, here are | | | | This will keep the thief from trying to buy a car or |
| nine critical steps to take: | | | | open a new credit card in your name. |
| 1. Report it to the police. Filling out a police report is | | | | 6. Get a new driver's license. Be sure to mention that |
| essential if you want any non-identifying items, such as | | | | your previous card was stolen, as it can be "cancelled" |
| iPods and other electronics, to be returned if they are | | | | by the DMV when your new card is reissued. |
| found by the police. Without a police report, the police | | | | 7. Get new cards for less essential accounts. Even |
| will have no idea your belongings have been stolen, | | | | your movie rental card or gym membership card can |
| and you may not be able to go after the thief if they | | | | be taken advantage of by the thief. Though it may not |
| are found. | | | | seem important at the time, be sure to let these |
| 2. Look for it nearby. Often, a purse thief will grab | | | | retailers know to cancel the card. |
| what they want, discarding the rest quickly in the | | | | 8. Change your locks. If your keys have been stolen, |
| nearest trashcan or dumpster. Search the immediate | | | | change the locks to both your home and your car. |
| area as soon as you realize it's gone, and for an hour | | | | Remember that thieves who have stolen your wallet |
| or two afterwards. Even if your wallet and credit | | | | have your address; if your keys were in your purse, |
| cards are gone, you may get the rest of the contents | | | | they now have access to both your vehicle and your |
| back this way. | | | | home. |
| 3. Assume it is gone for good. Still, you can't rely on | | | | 9. Suspend cell phone service. If your cell phone has |
| your diligent searching or the police report as a | | | | been stolen, ask the cell phone company to suspend |
| guarantee that your stuff will be returned; in most | | | | service on your account until you replace the phone. |
| cases, you'll never see your purse or its contents | | | | Otherwise, the thieves can rack up hundreds of dollars |
| again. Consider it gone forever, and take the next | | | | in cell phone charges very quickly. |
| steps accordingly. | | | | Having your purse or wallet stolen can be very scary, |
| 4. Contact credit card companies immediately. Act | | | | no matter the circumstances. If it ever happens to you, |
| quickly, before a thief has the chance to start running | | | | you are now prepared to deal with the aftermath as |
| up your credit card bill. Contact your bank and credit | | | | quickly as possible. |