Cop's Corner Published June 20, 2008 AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- May 27: An active duty military member accidentally left their passport on a plane after flying into Venice. The member contacted airport officials to try and get the passport back, but they were unsuccessful. A good piece of advice for travelers is to always check for important documents before moving locations. Not only when you are on the plane, but at a restaurant or hotel. Right before you move, pause and check everything. You'll be surprised how much of a difference it can make. June 9: An active duty military member reported that someone had fraudulently used their Social Security Number, date of birth and name to file taxes. It was fortunate that this person was informed by an IRS office about this issue. What more proof could you need to keep your personal information secret? Guard your personal information closely, specifically your Social Security Number. June 11: An active duty service member noticed something suspicious with their housing goods shipment. One of their laptop boxes was discovered to be empty after its arrival here at Aviano. This person was sharp enough to keep a good inventory of all his belongings when he PCSd. They were able to report the model and serial number for the missing laptop. Good job! When you PCS, ensure you have all the details of your valuables. You never know if you're going to have to file a claim for them. June 12: An active duty member reported that they had lost their passport. They stated the last time they saw their passport was in December when they flew into the Venice Airport. Another lost passport! These documents are important and should never be neglected. It's understandable that you don't see your passport every day, but it is highly advisable to always keep them in the same secure location. That way you'll always know where it is. June 13: An Aviano family member reported they had lost 100 liters of gas coupons. They most likely dropped the newly purchased booklet as they were leaving the Base Exchange. If you find a book of gas coupons, do the right thing and turn them in. These are controlled items, and they all have unique serial numbers on them. If you use these coupons there is a good chance it will come back to you. Show some integrity, turn in all lost property! An active duty member reported their vehicle had been stolen. Along with the vehicle being stolen the thief also drove off with 100 DVDs, Aviano restricted area badge, CAC card, credit card and 80 liters of gas coupons. The vehicle was later found abandoned, and all property was recovered with the exception of the restricted area badge. This person can count their lucky stars. This car thief apparently only wanted a joy ride, and didn't steal the DVDs that were left in the car, worth approximately $2000. Never -ever- leave valuables in your car. This includes your military ID and wallet. This person was lucky, but this type of luck is not a common occurrence.