Lost my wallet.

[cpaspr]

Mods - not sure if this is the right place for this. If not, please feel free to move it.
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Good news - I got it back. Intact. Even had the $21 cash still in it.

Went out to dinner for St. Pat's day with my wife. Had a Spanish Coffee that really got my temperature up. Not the alcohol, the spices. All evening I only finished half of it. But I took my jacket off and hung it on the back of my chair. When the bill came I reached back and got my wallet from the inside pocket, handed over the credit card. After signing the slip, I retrieved my card and receipt and put them back in my wallet, and then WITHOUT LOOKING, reached back and dropped my wallet back in the pocket. Didn't know it at the time, but I missed. Straight to the floor.

Didn't miss it till Sunday afternoon. Wasn't sure if it was lost, or just misplaced in the house. Called the restaurant, but nobody there could tell if it had been found as they couldn't get in the safe. Called back this morning, and yes, they had it. By the grace of God, someone honest found it and someone honest put it in the safe.


There's the backstory.


Now then -

I was probably more worried about the CHL getting found than I was that there were three credit cards in the wallet. [Those I was monitoring online and there was no additional activity, so I knew no one was using them. And the systems out there now are quick. We made a purchase at the local hardware store (that's when I missed it) and went home to get it. When I couldn't find it at home, I checked online. There was the purchase from 10 minutes earlier.]

Someone dishonest finding that card, along with the driver's license, knows exactly where they can probably find guns to steal. And that made me very nervous.

Aside from always knowing, and I mean really KNOWING, where my wallet is, any suggestions? If not, that's okay. I hope my experience can help someone else to have better awareness than I did.

 

[BullfrogKen]

cpaspr,

This thread Your wallet is stolen - you live in an apartment, how can you beef up security? addresses some of your concerns, and has a few solutions.

I never have need to pull my wallet unless I need to provide some ID. You might think about separating your money and credit cards from your ID if this causes you so much anxiety. The less you have to use your wallet, with the IDs and all in it during the day, the less likely you'll lose it.

 

[barbart]

Why is our street addresses on DL & CCW's?

I just went through my wallet (having just read several posts about lost or stolen). The ONLY things with my address is my DL and CCW. This info is readily available to LEO if needed. Losing credit cards is one thing but handing over my home address to a BG is very scary. Isn't it time to stop putting that info out unnecessarily? Is there a good reason or is it that "we've always done it this way"?

 

[Froggy]

Aside from always knowing, and I mean really KNOWING, where my wallet is, any suggestions?

I always give myself a pseudo pat-down before I walk away from a restaurant table, bar, etc. I check to make sure the wallet is where it is supposed to be, keys are in my pocket, and so on, and I'll look back after I've stood up to make sure nothing is being left behind.

Your story and others like it sometimes has me thinking about getting one of those little cardholders to use for my DL, CCW, and other government issued ID. That would put the credit cards in a wallet I could stand losing if I had to (through inattention or robbery) while retaining the stuff that is harder to replace or more important to me for the reasons you give above.

 

[whitetiger7654]

"I always give myself a pseudo pat-down before I walk away from a restaurant table, bar, etc."

+1 I give myself a pat down when I leave the house, get out of car, leave a table, etc, etc. I repeat in my head keys, wallet, cell phone. Everytime at least 6-7 times a day. That way I know I have the basics on me.