An unlocked vehicle sitting in a driveway or parking lot is a tempting prize for a thief.

But what may be inside the vehicle could be worth more than the vehicle itself – a notary stamp.

The Times-Herald of Forrest City, Arkansas, reported the Dec. 1 theft of a local notary’s vehicle. The notary has parked the vehicle at his home and when he woke the next morning, the vehicle was gone. Police located it undamaged several miles away. However, several items had been stolen, including the notary’s identification and his notary equipment.

Keeping your vehicle unlocked is unwise. Keeping your notary equipment inside your vehicle is practically criminal.

Stolen notary stamps have been used by thieves to change names on property deeds, refinance mortgages for cash, and gain powers of attorney over someone else’s financial affairs resulting in millions of dollars in losses for unsuspecting victims.

In a newspaper article, a Los Angeles county detective was quoted as saying, “a notary stamp is the most powerful identity theft and fraud tool you will ever find.”

So why would anyone leave their notary equipment in their vehicle?

Thieves love it when individuals make crime easy.