It's that time of year again when I am reminded by posts that I read on the list that we should all be more careful with our personal information. This list is not a secured membership. Anyone with an email address can join. There is no screening and no accountability. For your safety and the safety of your property: Never ever ever post your full name, your first name and initial of last name, full or partial address, or any phone numbers Never alude to your comings and goings, work schedule, commute time or location Never alude to your vacation or travel plans Examples of easy ways to put yourself at risk are to ask the neighborhood things like the following....and all of these are made up by me...based on things I have read here over the years.... "My kids are in daycare all day long. Can anyone recommend a good nanny? Thanks! Jeanie, 12 Rainbow Street" - now we know you probably work, and your house is likely empty during the day "It's tomato season and we won't be here to pick them. Does anyone want to harvest our tomatoes while we are in Nebraska? Thanks! Bob, 412.661.0000" - now we know you are out of the house for an extended period of time "We are cleaning house. If anyone needs a second hand dresser, please come get it off our porch anytime. 5 Summer Lane. We can help you carry it to your car any evening or weekend!" - now we know you are out of the house during the day "I'm looking for a housekeeper who can come in during the day while me and kids are away. Must be bonded and insured. Maybe you already clean a house on my street? Mobie Smith on Snow Way" - again, house is empty in the daytime. "We're going to Brussels at the end of June. We'll be spending a few weeks and want to soak in the local culture. Can anyone give us some guidance on local events and/or the weather at that time of year? Thx - Jack Splat" - empty house, end of June...through mid-July...enough said, right? "Our dogs are going nuts during the day without us. Can anyone recommend a doggie daycare or a dog sitter? Something easy to get to from Block Road would be great! Thanks for any ideas! Mandy S." - again...getting the point? "Our bikes were stolen again. We live on the corner of 1st and Market Streets. Yes we left the garage open, but really! Did anyone else have anything stolen?" - there is a garage that tends to be left unlocked somewhere near 1st and Market...someone is going to go check some garage doors now.... "Our car was broken into (again!) on the 900 block of Gizmo Avenue. Anyone else? Now I have to get a new GPS!" - in a few days, there will be a new GPS in a car on the 900 block of Gizmo Avenue...and...a car on Mellon has a history of being left unlocked. I used to have to look for people for a living. I worked in research and research subjects would go missing over time. Part of my job was to find them again. I usually did. It's not very hard. In fact, it's frighteningly easy. REMEMBER the power of the internet. If you post your full name, someone can find your address. If you post your first name and an initial, as well as a street...someone can find you by reviewing all the people listed on your street. If you post part of your address, someone can find your phone number. Then someone can call your house and verify it is empty. If you post your cell phone, chances are it's on a website somewhere and someone can find the rest of your information. Do you include your cell phone or any other identifying information on your CV? Do you work for a university that posts your CV? Then someone can find out where you live. It is so easy to backtrack through information these days. Anything beyond your first name and a general inquiry puts you at risk. You can't keep your personal information from being published on the internet. But by using this list carefully, you can avoid putting out information that puts you at risk of being victimized. Be safe out there, neighbors. Mary