What I wouldn't do for a $3500 shopping spree at Best Buy.

OSX (do they have macs?) and HDTV here I come...

Ed Skinner wrote:
>      I know of at least one other reader of this list that goes to the same 
> gym (Bally's at Cave Creek and Cactus), hence this posting.
>      Two credit cards were stolen from my wallet in my padlocked locker at the 
> above gym on Saturday the 16th. The locker was padlocked before and after the 
> theft and was not detected by me at the time. The theives (I'm assuming there 
> was more than one person -- probably a "lookout" in addition to the "lock 
> pick" individual) used the two credit cards to chart $269.23 at Sports 
> Authority, $1900.00 (odd) at Best Buy, and another $1600.00 (odd) at Best Buy 
> (dunno if it was the same store or not), and finally $416.00 at Sapporo 
> Japanese Restaurant in Scottsdale (to celebrate, no doubt). These charges 
> were all completed that same evening.
>      Sunday morning (the 17th), the fraud department of one of the credit card 
> companies telephoned us. (This was when we discovered that the cards were 
> missing.) The fraud department reviewed the recent charges and we identified 
> which ones were fraudulent. (If I'm not mistaken, because we did not know the 
> cards had been stolen, we will not be liable for any charges, not even the 
> token $50 amount. Anyone know how this works?) I then checked my wallet and 
> determined that another card was missing, called that company and, sure 
> enough, it was also being used fraudulently. (Half of the above charges were 
> on each of the two cards.)
>      Here's what I'm guessing happened.
>      My wife and I arrived at the gym at about 5:00PM on Saturday evening. 
> (Married folks "have no life" on Saturday night.) I change clothes and lock 
> (Masterlock combination lock -- I've since learned this is a really bad 
> choice because they are so common, and pick-able) my wallet and street 
> clothes. I am probably observed by one of the thieves who waits until I leave 
> the locker room.
>       Probably posting a lookout, or just proceeding on guts (as the gym 
> doesn't have a lot of people in it), the thief picks the lock and examines my 
> wallet. He leaves the ATM card and, of the stack of three credit cards, 
> leaves the topmost one. He also leaves the small amount of cash I have. He 
> takes only the two credit cards that are underneath another. Presumably this 
> strategy is so I won't notice the theft. (And it works as planned.) He 
> relocks my locker and vacates the area. They leave the gym and use the credit 
> cards to buy stuff at stores that don't do a very good signature check. 
> (Someone suggested writing "ASK FOR ID" in the signature area of the card 
> instead of my signature -- would that help?) Finally, they ended the evening 
> with lots of celebratory drinks and several rounds of sushi.
>       Googling for "How to pick masterlock combination lock" turns up lots of 
> hits. Although I was unable to open my own lock using the techniques listed, 
> I figure it may just be a matter of practice.
>       We're going to change our habits.
> 1) When going to the gym, take only driver's license, gym membership card, and 
> car ignition key. All other non-clothing items stay at home.
> 2) At the gym, keep these three items on my person while working out, in the 
> shower and the steam room. (I'm thinking some sort of bungie-cord wrist band 
> and sealable plastic bag for the shower, and that in my pocket while working 
> out.)
> 3) Use a better (keyed) lock on the locker, regardless (and carry the key 
> while working out, etc.). [Brand/model suggestions?]
>      We're *not* locking things in the car because I don't want to tempt a 
> thief to smash my windows. We'll park in a "highly visible" location (and not 
> under a shade tree -- bummer!).
> 


-- 
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Robert Wultsch                   // \\        robert.wultsch@asu.edu
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