There have been a number of threads about securing your home while away on a trip. My question is what do you do about securing your important documents like income tax records, bank statements, and anything that my contain lots of important info that someone could use to steal your identity. For example, we are supposed to keep everything associated with our income taxes for 7 years (at least). To hold my 7 years of records I use two large file boxes so I can't put them in my safe deposit box at the bank. I have been asking my son to keep them at his house while we are away. What do you do? BTW, we have a lockbox bolted in our TT that we keep things in while on the road.

I am more worried about problems on the road than about this stuff.I do not do anything special

Buy a fire safe. I have one like this http://www.libertysafe.com/build_review.php.It's fire rated for 60 minutes which should be plenty if you live in a decent size city with a quick fire department. I have 4 large lag bolts into my floor joists. It's a heavy safe and has a digital keypad with a key override. Made in the USA with a lifetime warranty. Can't beat that. I bought mine at Lowes but I don't think they sell them anymore.

What do you do with them when you are:At work?At friends?Out for the evening?At the park/lake/day trip?Nothing......

My question is what do you do about securing your important documents like income tax records, bank statements, and anything that my contain lots of important info that someone could use to steal your identity. I carry 2 credit cards in case one gets locked down. And a list of phone numbers in case phone become lost or stolen. Not that concerned about ID theft as every few would want to become me

Have you check the crime rate n NM??? It's higher than being in YOUR RV> I don't worry about stuff like other people. S happens. JMO

Security While On Long Trip | Good Sam Community

1L243
Explorer II
Nov 24, 2014
I buried all my important documents but then I forgot where I buried them! Glad IRS has all that information backed up!...

I have large safe that holds guns and most important documents. I would not recommend a digital lock or a Key backup. Check youtube for safe cracking there are all types of tools and techniques for defeating those locks... I would go with a old fashioned combination lock with no key backup and don't loose the combination.

I added security cameras to the house. I will get a email or text on my smart phone if cameras sense movement. I can see the activity on my smart phone and visit the cameras in real time and I can then act accordingly.

I also would not recommend putting sensative information on your computer. It would be a real mega source of information for a ID theif if your computer gets stolen.. Storing on a thumb drive and store thumb drive in fire proof safe would be good. Would not destroy paper backup. Being a retired cop it makes the hair on my neck standup.

Currently working on surveilance camera for RV so we can see what's happening when we are not there... Just because your not paranoid does not mean everyone is not out to get you!
4x4Bob
Explorer
Nov 24, 2014
My document protection plan is real simple.

Purchase a shovel

Purchase a water tight box

draw map

No problem thinking about document theft.:B

Bob
NC_Roamer
Explorer
Nov 23, 2014
derh20 wrote:
The best solution to your problem is to put a "Credit Freeze" on with all 3 credit reporting agencies. that would prevent anyone from trying to get credit with your stolen information. Of course you could not get credit either. You would have to cancel the credit freeze with each agency for a given period of time. there may be a cost, depending on the state you live in. this can be done quickly and easily on the web. Just a suggestion.

+1 on the credit freeze. North Carolina law allows us to do this for free.

It has the extra benefit of being able to tell retail cashiers trying to push their credit card on me that my credit is frozen. Once, with a really pushy one, I let him try and, as expected, his system was unable to check my credit score, so he could not issue the card. :-)
Caveman_Charlie
Explorer II
Nov 23, 2014
I agree with the safe idea. I would be worried about "Scanning" important documents. I don't trust electronic / computer stuff to much and it seems to me that scanning important stuff on to a thumb drive would make it really easy to loose it and, easier to steal it.

Thumb drive gets wet, thumb drive gets to close to a Electro Magnet, thumb drive is small and gets lost easily, you use thumb drive and accidently hit the wrong key and it's all erased, lightening hits the house and thumb drive gets shorted out, and the list goes on and on.
PenMan
Explorer
Nov 22, 2014
Thanks for the replies. I have a gun safe that is secure but not large enough for guns and large file boxes. I had considered scanning all the tax documents, etc. but didn't know if that would work if we ever got audited and the original documents were not available. Sounds like that may be the best way to go. Thanks again.
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Nov 22, 2014
Old-Biscuit wrote:
derh20 wrote:
The best solution to your problem is to put a "Credit Freeze" on with all 3 credit reporting agencies. that would prevent anyone from trying to get credit with your stolen information. Of course you could not get credit either. You would have to cancel the credit freeze with each agency for a given period of time. there may be a cost, depending on the state you live in. this can be done quickly and easily on the web. Just a suggestion.

$10 per person per agency ($30/each)

And then $10 fee for temporary or permanent lift.
Temporary can be short term (just while you handle transaction) or specific time period.

Used the 'freeze' for all the yrs. we traveled

I'm in warm So. CA (going up to 80 on Monday) but I'm frozen!..:B

~

FYI - the freeze applies *only* to you - the person whose credit is "frozen".

You have to do a separate freeze for your spouse.

If you are making a major purchase on credit (ex: financing a car), you can save a few bucks by asking which one of the credit agencies they use - and only thaw that one.

And......remember when some retailer offers you a hot deal to apply for their credit card right then and there to politely decline, as it won't fly..;)

~
MewshawManor
Explorer
Nov 22, 2014
It's all about time and money. How much are you willing to invest to protect your perceived "valuables" versus how much a bad guy is willing to invest to take them from you. We do not fret about such things. Stuff is stuff. We have an alarm system and observant neighbors. On extended trips, we trust in a neighbor to do a walk-around of our house every other day. We employ multiple layers of "security," to include safes, digital backups, alarm systems, and other forms of "deterrents." We enjoy RV'ing and don't let the perceived threat of a burglar worry us.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Nov 22, 2014
PenMan wrote:
BTW, we have a lockbox bolted in our TT that we keep things in while on the road.

The #1 problem with RVing is a fire, not theft. Have you ever seen a video of how fast they explode into flames? You wouldn't have time to get to your lockbox. Your first concern should be to get out. Period.

We've full-timed for 18 years with much boondocking in remote places. Theft has never been a concern and we know of no one who has had a problem. We keep a case with valuables and important papers/passport, etc. It sits by the door ready to grab if we need to get out fast. If we'll be gone, say like all day, we'll take it with us.

We also scan documents, do computer backups and send a copy to our daughter's. We wouldn't loose a thing except perhaps some time re-creating our files.
noe-place
Explorer
Nov 22, 2014
Our home has a security system connected to the police and fire departments if any glass is broken or if any door or windows are entered. Also a siren that will wake the dead once the alarm is activated. Property is totally lit after dark. Police and Sheriff Deps patrol area when I'm gone (special request). I'm still working on the moat with alligators and sharks. :B
free_radical
Explorer
Nov 22, 2014
PenMan wrote:
There have been a number of threads about securing your home while away on a trip. My question is what do you do about securing your important documents like income tax records, bank statements, and anything that my contain lots of important info that someone could use to steal your identity. For example, we are supposed to keep everything associated with our income taxes for 7 years (at least). To hold my 7 years of records I use two large file boxes so I can't put them in my safe deposit box at the bank. I have been asking my son to keep them at his house while we are away. What do you do? BTW, we have a lockbox bolted in our TT that we keep things in while on the road.

www.ironmountain.com

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