Well, the reason would be that the issuing entities, the state and
insurance companies, tell owners to do so.  And since I moved to
Washington, I do so, but remove them when I am parking the vehicle in some
sketchy place.  At home, it is in a locked garage.

I have reported this before, but a long time ago.  When I bought my camper,
in Kentucky and lived in Oklahoma, I was driving it home.  In Tennessee, I
was stopped by state police, and asked for registration and insurance.  Of
course, insurance was my current policy, card in my wallet.  I had not
registered the vehicle yet, but had a bill of sale from the seller.  The
police officer had to tell me that a registration paper was probably in the
glove box, and it was.

When I next looked up, my van was surrounded by multiple police vehicles,
blocking me on the highway shoulder.  I was asked to get out, spread eagled
on a police vehicle, patted down.  My identification was perused and radio
calls concerning both me and the vehicle made.

Finally, I was told what was going on.  A notorious murderer had escaped a
Tennessee prison.  He was known to have had a fondness for VW campers.  His
description and mine matched.  He was last seen wearing a baseball cap and
had a full beard, as did I.  The officers sent me on my way with wishes of
good luck traveling.

mcneely

On Fri, Apr 22, 2022 at 9:35 AM James Eaton <jk_eaton@hotmail.com> wrote:

> Goodness, why would anyone leave registration and insurance papers in the
> vehicle?  It's more than 20 years ago that the police and insurance
> companies here in Canada started advising you never to do this, and issue
> multiple 'pink cards' for insurance, so every driver could carry one, and
> accepting photocopies of registration papers - again, carried on the driver.
>
> James
> Ottawa, ON
> '91 Westy Weekender
> ________________________________
> From: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> on behalf of David
> McNeely <davmcneely40@GMAIL.COM>
> Sent: April 22, 2022 11:17 AM
> To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Subject: Re: Westy break in, only vehicle registration (Canadian) stolen
>
> I grew up in Texas and lived in Oklahoma for a good part of my life.
> Neither of those states requires paperwork to be carried in the vehicle
> (well, insurance, but that can be carried in a wallet).  And Texas uses a
> windshield sticker for registration, rather than a plate sticker.  These
> things reduce the chance of paperwork theft.
>
> Sorry you had this occur, Mark.  I hope everything works out.  I hope you
> have identity theft protection.  mcneely
>
> On Thu, Apr 21, 2022 at 8:17 PM Mark McCulley <mark@markmcculley.com>
> wrote:
>
> > One thing thieves will do is go directly to your home as listed on the
> > registration figuring that you are shopping or whatever and away from
> home.
> > This doesn't apply if the van was pilfered over night while parked at
> home.
> > If I were you I'd carefully watch my credit report for the next year or
> so.
> > I'm paranoid enough now that I took all registration and identifying info
> > out of my vehicles, carry photos of the documents on my smart phone in
> case.
> >
> > -Mark
> >
> > > On Apr 21, 2022, at 7:19 PM, Alistair Bell <albell@SHAW.CA> wrote:
> > >
> > > I can’t comment on the reasons things were stolen. But Jeeze, you’ve
> > been silent for a while Martin.
> > >
> > > Good to know you’re still working the van :-)
> > >
> > > Alistair
> > >
> > >> On Apr 21, 2022, at 5:58 PM, poppie.jagersand@yahoo.ca wrote:
> > >>
> > >> Last night someone broke into my Westy - forced the sliding window,
> > popped the screen, then unlocked front door.
> > >>
> > >> They had rifled through everything, but oddly, only the folder with
> the
> > registration and insurance were stolen. They left tools and camping gear
> > that probably could have netted them hundreds at a pawn shop.
> > >>
> > >> What would they do with a Canadian registration? A web site suggested
> > identity theft, but then why break into the van? Why not just steal one
> of
> > my bills from the mailbox?
> > >>
> > >> Another website suggested someone could call the insurance company and
> > mess with my insurance - not sure what they could gain from it other than
> > kicks for causing trouble for me.
> > >>
> > >> I submitted the Police report - in Edmonton it is just an on-line form
> > for theft under $5000. I don't expect they will contact me. (The form
> > seemed mostly concerned with if the license plate was stolen, but it is
> > still there) I'll also notify my insurance company that the insurance
> card
> > got legs.
> > >>
> > >>
> > >> Martin and 82 Westy 1.9TD
> >
>