10/20/2026
Those cute stick-figure family decals on the back of vehicles may seem fun and harmless, but have you ever considered how much personal information they could unintentionally reveal to strangers?
The Bridgeton Police Department wants to remind residents that protecting your family starts with being mindful of the information you make publicly available.
𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠?
How many adults and children are in your household.
The presence of young children and possibly their ages or interests.
How many pets you own and potentially what type.
Hobbies, occupations, and activities that may suggest certain routines.
Details about your family structure that, when combined with other publicly available information, could reveal more than you intended.
𝐓𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐥?
At first glance, we can make several observations:
The family appears to consist of two adults, one child, and one dog.
Dad enjoys golf, which could suggest he spends time away from home participating in that activity.
Mom is pictured with a purse, which may suggest an interest in shopping.
There appears to be a young child and a baby in the family. (This information could potentially be used by individuals with harmful intentions to identify families, follow them home, or become familiar with their daily routines.)
The family has one dog (breed or value)
Now imagine combining those details with school decals, sports team stickers, personalized license plates, or information shared on social media.
⚠️ 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫?
Individuals looking to commit crimes may use publicly available information to identify potential opportunities. While a family decal alone doesn't necessarily make you a target, sharing unnecessary personal details can contribute to a larger picture of your household.
𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲:
✅ Limit personal information displayed on your vehicle.
✅ Avoid decals that identify your children's names, schools, or activities.
✅ Consider generic designs rather than stickers that reveal specific family details.
✅ Be mindful of how information displayed on your vehicle could be combined with information available online.
𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧!
This isn't about creating fear. It's about encouraging awareness and making small decisions that help protect you and your loved ones.
Sometimes, the information we don't share is just as important as the precautions we take.
The Bridgeton Police Department encourages everyone to take a moment and look at the decals on their vehicles. Are you sharing more than you realize?
