What a bit of luck for that woman who lost them.

I'd be willing to bet the woman had her purse stolen, and the thieves tossed that stuff (they want the cash, they don't want to be caught with ANYthing that could link them to the crime) into the first place they found where they thought they probably wouldn't be discovered. Obviously, the bottom of a chipper truck would be a great place, if it weren't for the fact that your son was in there before it got filled up.

So it's probably not all that lucky for her--she's going to have to cancel everything, regardless, just in case the thieves DID write down her info for future use. And she's going to be worried about identity theft for years to come. It's a shame that there are people out there who think they have every right to help themselves to other people's things, money and lives.

Who carries a birth certificate and social security card in their purse? That's insane. I would think something more nefarious is going on. That is a really weird story. I hope that woman is OK. Could her house or safe been broken into?

I am so glad to hear that he had a better experience at turning the documents in than I did....

Back in the early 70's I was driving an 18wheeler and one day I was on a trip from N.Y city to Chicago. About half way across the state of Pennsylvania I pulled into a rest area on I-80 to use the restroom and I found a mans wallet laying on the ground in the parking lot. I checked the wallet and found that it had all the I.D. cards, credit cards and about $250 cash in it. The drivers license said the owner lived in Val Paraiso,Ind and I thought, if I turn this in to the PA state police it would take a week or so before they got it back to the guy, but I was going right through Val Paraiso the next morning so I thought I'll just take it with me and when I get close I can call the guy and tell him I found his wallet.

The next morning when I got close to Val Paraiso I stopped in a service plaza on the Indiana Turnpike and checked the phone book for a phone number. Sure enough, I found the number so I called and a lady answered. I asked her if this was the home of mr. ***** and she said, yes, he is my husband. I then asked if he was there and she said no, so I went on to tell her that I had found his wallet and I would like to meet him to return it. I said I would prefer if he came to meet me somewhere because his picture was on the drivers license and I could verify who he was to insure I returned it to the correct person. She says, no problem, where can we meet you? I told her where I was and she says, wow, thats only minutes away..If you can wait there we will come meet you.

I then went and got me a cup of coffee and I casually told the waitress that I was waiting for a man to come find me to return his wallet, so if I guy asks you where I am, you can tell him.

About twenty minutes later two guys dressed in expensive suites walked up to my table and asked if I was the driver who had just called Mrs **** about her husbands wallet?

I politely said yes and Whammmmmmm, the next thing I know I am face down on the table and they are putting handcuffs on me. I said, whats up and they said they were FBI agents and I was going with them, so they took me out to their car and off to Chicago we went. For the next 5hours I sat in an interrogation room while they asked me a million questions about where I was from, where I had been, where was I on such and such a date and like that. At the end of the five hours one of the guys came in the room and says, it can't be him, we called his company and he was in Dallas when it happened. So then we sat there another two or three hours while I explained to them were I found the wallet, right down to taking out a road atlas and showing them the exact location of the rest area, then I drew a little map of the rest area showing where I parked, where the restroom was and exactly where I found the wallet. Then they wanted a list of all the other vehicles that was in that rest area, like I had paid any attention to that. And on and on they went with questions for another three hours. Finally they decided I had no involvement with whatever they were investigating and agreed to drive me back to my truck. On the way back to my truck the agent who was driving finally told me that the man who owned the wallet had been kidnapped and that was the first lead they had as to where he might be.

About six months later I got a nice note from the lady explaining that her hubby had finally been found dead in a marsh in N.J., but she was thanking me for my honesty and my attempt to return the wallet.

Wow,Lazypup,what an amazing story!
And a little trivia from me: About 2 weeks ago, I lost my wallet. The day it went missing, I had been at a blood test , showed my insurance card, and went to a drug store and bought $30 worth of stuff with a credit card. My wallet contained 2 credit cards, car registration, library card and medical insurance cards. Perfect for an identity thief! I searched the house and all family cars, nada. Then I went about replacing everything. Lucky my drivers license was still in my purse-used that as ID for other lost documents. Yersterday my daughter told me "I found your wallet in the back seat of my car." No good to me...

Sleeper blues--as to who carries their birth certificate, etc? Practically everyone I know is planning travel out of the country right now, and they've all been applying for passports--so yes, they do have that sort of thing on them when they go to the mall, to the county store. And malls, as we know, are notorious for being the playgrounds of pickpockets. Also, you have to take that stuff with you to the motor vehicle office everytime you renew your license. There are a dozen or more other transactions where you need to have those documents with you--it may be that the person didn't carry them on a regular basis, but was on her way to an appt. where they were needed when her purse was snatched. SO many times these days, you're asked for those documents (and many more) as identification

Seems strange to me that someone would be carrying all
that stuff with them, too. The Passport applying could
fit it, but, sure don't need all that stuff to renew
a driver's license around here. Wow...hope my States
aren't heading for that extreme, for a simple renewal.

"Also, you have to take that stuff with you to the motor vehicle office everytime you renew your license. "

Just renewed my license last week & had to put my social security # on the application, they didn't ask to see the actual card.

My state doesn't require "all that stuff" either, thank goodness. I cannot wait until this ridiculous oppression stops.

Scary story, lazypup! It seems to be your nature to do good deeds. I hope that awful experience didn't deter you.

Are you guys kidding? EVERY SINGLE time we renew, we have to take our birth certificate, our marriage license(s) if there's more than one, a couple of documents (like tax bills, bank statements, etc) that prove we still live at our address, among other things. There's a whole long list, and you CANNOT renew a driver's license by mail any more, because of the complicated ID process. But then, I live in a state where there are a LOT of illegal aliens, and terrorists.

We just have to bring in our driver's license and the renewal card.

Regarding driver license renewal, after 9/11, a lot of states (but not all) implemented strict renewal procedures.

Here in FL, the following documents are required:

Proof of identification: A certified birth certificate; a valid passport; a consular Report of Birth Abroad; a certificate of Naturalization; or a certificate of Citizenship.

Proof of Social Security number: Social Security card; W-2 form; paycheck or any 1099 form.

Proof of residential address: Two items containing your address, such as a mortgage statement, utility bill, voter identification card or a car insurance policy.

These requirements are especially burdensome to women who have been married and/or remarried. The paper trail showing the name change(s) can be a major PITA. However, if you have a passport, it will take the place of all those documments. FL accepts the fact that a woman has already been "vetted" by the Federal Government.

As I unerstand it, after your license has been renewed ONCE under these requirements, any future renewals can be done by mail.

You all should check with your DMV to find out what documents are needed.

Sherrmann, I doubt this "ridiculous oppression" will end anytime soon.

Lazypup, your story reminds me of one of DH's favorite sayings: "now good deed goes unpunished".

Ellen
Ellen

Only time I needed by birth certificate was to get married. Never been asked for a birth certificate, marriage license or even my social security card. Just give them your old license and get a new one. Only things I carry with me are driver's license, debit card and insurance card.

Same here in CA, just show them the old driver's license, a renewal form and that's it!

The woman may have also been applying for a job and that's the reason those items were in her purse. Many places require that info.

When I moved here from another state, I had to bring both my driver's license and my marriage license. My husband was allowed to bring jsut the social security card and the birth certificate. I normally go by First Name, Maiden name, Last Name. They made me drop my maiden name and put in my middle name even though that is not how I am known. My social security card has my name the way I prefer it.

I also had to get a new copy of my birth certificate. I have the original, but it doesn't meet the newer standards.

Before I started the job I have now, I needed to bring in my Social Security card. I think they wanted to see a driver's license, too; I can't recall if they wanted to see my birth certificate or if I told them my Social Security card was still packed away in one of my car-travel bags, but I do recall having to go back to where I was staying and search for it (it was among other impt papers that I kept with me on my road trip here).

So it could be that the person was applying for or starting a job, or perhaps was taking the items back to a safe-deposit box at the bank, or there are some people that feel more security always keeping these types of things on them (the "hide the savings under the mattress" types?).

LazyPup--that is a "holy sh**" experience! Did you keep an eye on the news after the body was found -- was it a case of the guy just being in the wrong place at the wrong target when somebody wanted some cash (and then killed when the miscreant realized the wallet was gone), or maybe ... mob-related?!

LazyPup's story is the reason if I find a purse and/or wallet, I turn them in immediately. I have found wallets at Walmart from people from the base and turn them into the store. I don't look for anything in the wallet, but twice the wallets have been open to show the cards. Any purses in the shopping carts have been turned into the store. I am glad nothing happened to you and yes the story is scary.

I can't believe there is a state that would require you to bring a charge card, social security card AND birth certificate to renew a drivers license! Where I live you can keep renewing your license just by showing your old license and paying a fee as long as the old license hasn't expired. Then they take a new picture and you get your new license in the mail.

I have a passport and travel internationally - otherwise I don't carry it. It stays at home with my personal documents. Same with my social security card. I've been on the same job almost 30 years. Nowadays when a new person is hired they are required to show their Social Security card but it is not recommended to carry it on a daily basis.

lazypup, what a scary story! I can see why the FBI had to interrogate your husband but of course he was innocent and only trying to be helpful. Sad for the family of the victim tho.

Incredible story, Lazypup. Poor guy.

If any increased level of identification is needed in Wisconsin, I just bring my passport. I would never, ever leave the house with all of those personal papers in my possession. I am really uncomfortable even having my passport, and I live in a safe area.

I have to renew my DL in May, so thanks for the head's up. I'll have to check to see if anything more is needed, but I doubt it.

A few weeks ago I was in a store and looked down and saw a folded piece of paper. Thought I might have dropped one of my lists and so I picked it up and it didn't look like the paper I usually use so I was about to toss it but opened it anyway. First unfold and I saw a familiar logo. Second unfold and yep, it was a Treasury check for over $1400. Thought about calling the cops to turn it in or whether to turn it in at the service desk but thought maybe it's better to turn it in since it's in the store and at least everything is on camera so I'm covered that way. I even debated about taking it to her house. The name was not a common female name for today so I guessed it was an elderly lady who lost it and yes I could be wrong so you can smooth your hackles. I turned it in at the service desk. Meant to ask the gal what happened. The one I gave it to, I see often at this store. Felt good the rest of the day, though I debated whether I should have called the cops. I think I did the right thing under the circumstances.