Bumper stickers and window decals have always been a fun way for some drivers to express their personality and customize their car. Whether it's a silly phrase or a meaningful quote, most people apply the stickers without a second thought, but police are warning drivers that some stickers could be putting them, and their families, in significant danger.
The biggest culprit is a decal you probably see daily and might even have on your own vehicle - the one showing stick figure versions of all the members of the car owner's family. The stickers now come in different varieties, including ones that portray an activity every family member is into, and some decals even include each person's name. Occasionally, there might be a separate bumper sticker revealing the school or schools younger family members attend, perhaps out of school pride or as a boast if someone in the fam is on the honor roll there.
The issue with it all is that it gives criminals loads of information to use in nefarious ways.
While kids are taught all about stranger danger, they might not think a person is a stranger if that person knows their name. Sites where the stickers can be purchased even suggest against putting names under figures on the decals, but many people just ignore the warning.
Because of all the danger, police are now urging car owners to not put up stickers that give away personal information. The authorities also advise going even further and removing any parking passes that might hang from a rearview mirror when the car isn't parked in the lot it's required for. Additionally, the police warn against putting a child's name on their backpacks or clothing for the same reasons.