Identity theft in Lamar? I was shocked. But there were three listings of personal documents being stolen over the radio today. One of those in Lamar, detailed documents being stolen contained identification papers.
As the 5 O’clock whistle blows I note the local news and listen to Erik Stone’s familiar voice talking about local events including the Hospice Barn Dance and wonder if there’s more to the local info theft than just documents. Has someone here locally already lost identification docs to a local theft? Have people here lost their identity or cash money to local thieves?
I’m not so naive as to believe that identity theft has missed this small town on the high plains, but I was hoping it wasn’t so close as the local police beat.
Interesting events have been happening in and around Lamar, or so I’ve heard. It seems the gossip mongers are trollying up to the bar, let’s hear it for gossip, the good the bad and the ugly. There’s more to say, and be said, but should it be heard?
It’s interesting that I come home to find the solace, but there’s little of it here. With all the gossip, it sounds like home town is doomed too. A meth lab shut down by the local PD… At least they’re on the job. Glad to hear the Sheriff Department and the Police Department have unified forces to accomplish great things! Sounds like the community is struggling a bit financially, is it really a financial issue or just a banking issue? It would be good to know the answer to that question, before any further “news” hits the streets.
The Lamar Ledger changes publishers again. Good luck to Sue in her new endeavors and to Mary in her new position. It should be fun working with the ledger again…
Still thinking about the City Charter and the new proposed amendments – I still recommend the voters in Lamar don’t pass the amendments incorporating new position definitions for City Administrator and other City Personnel. The old charter spells out some definitions and provisions we need to maintain. About that accounting issue that needs clarification, perhaps more clarification is needed before changes are made?
City of Lamar should be disclosing details at the council meetings, if you care to attend.
Re-Article Police Reports, Oct.10
I don`t know who wrote the comment about “identity theft” being as close as the Lamar Police Department, but you better believe it when you have an untrained, unprofessional officer working in your Police Department. It is easy for me to believe it. I experienced it during a recent traffic stop in Lamar. I was asked for my social security number which I refused to give to the officer, explaining that I only shared that information with Social Security because of the risk of identity theft. He was quick to remind me to look in the upper left hand corrner of the ticket when he returned from his patrol car and my social security number would be there. After thirty to forty minutes of sitting in his patrol car doing whatever he had to do to aquire my social security number, he returned so proud that he had been able get my social security number. He was gloating and patting himself on the back about the fact that he had done something as “stupid” as making a point to me that he could get my social security number. GUESS WHAT! It didn`t do him one bit of good to have it, except waste my time and the tax payers money. This type of foolishness has a huge potential for identity theft when this information is passed around over computers, the police radio and all other means the police use for sharing information. It is a sick organization that abuses and tromp`s on the rights of people just to make a point about something as private as a Social Security number.
In my opinion the people in charge need to have some common sense and take a serious look at what goes on with the people hired to run your city.
David,
Thanks for this information. You’re right, your social security number in the corner of a ticket is a pretty stupid point for any officer to waste his time making. There are so many other things they should be doing.
Perhaps the people in Lamar need access to PrePaid Legal services to protect their identity from being squandered by the local police department — social security numbers aren’t required on tickets. (In case anyone else is concerned, don’t give that information and if it’s on your ticket, CALL the Chief of Police and file a formal complaint!)
NOTE: If it’s on the ticket, either you give it to the officer or it’s announced over the open police band radio, or a cell phone. NEITHER offers any form of privacy for your personal identification.