Date: 07 August 2006 20:34


                              VICTIM of CRIME
If you should happen to become the victim of crime try and protect the
scene as this will be of great help to the Scenes of Crime Officers. Where
at all possible they will try and visit, so preserving the scene goes a
long way to helping them.

Please note the following item which I am listing below, there appears to
be more and more of this type of crime and it will continue to, if we do
not protect our identity. The next time someone asks you what you would
like for a birthday present  don't be embarassed to say " A SHREDDER".


                           Personal Information

Quick tip:
If you throw away credit card receipts and bills, make sure that you rip
them up, or shred them if possible, so prying eyes can't read them.
Identity theft is a growing problem, but these simple steps reduce your
risk.

 Thieves can use even the most mundane of personal details to help them
"verify" that they are someone they aren't, and one of the most common ways
of obtaining personal details is "bin-raiding". This is surprisingly common
in affluent areas and is spreading out of towns to the countryside; with
75% of local authorities now admitting it happens regularly in their area.
So don't keep all of your bills, receipts and other personal documents in
an obvious place, if you can lock it away. If you don't have anywhere to
lock it, try and keep it somewhere out of the way or separate it out.
Consider investing in a shredder!
Identity thieves will also try to dupe you into giving personal information
either in person, over the phone or by using official sounding e-mails. And
of course, personal computers can hold plenty of information useful to
fraudsters.
Be suspicious of anyone seeking too much personal information, and don't be
afraid to challenge them by asking, "why do you need those details?" - a
legitimate enquirer won't mind you asking. Make sure you store all
important documents and details, such as your birth certificate, National
Insurance number, receipts and bank statements, in a safe place.
Anything containing personal information that you intend to throw out
should be destroyed before it is put in the bin. Using a household paper
shredder is not taking things too far. If you think you have become the
victim of an identity thief, report it to the police, local authority and
relevant Government departments or companies immediately.

Keep personal information in "encrypted" folders on your computer.
Encryption scrambles the contents of your chosen folder so it cannot be
read by anyone else. You can "unscramble" the contents using a password.
Many well-known software companies offer free downloads to help you with
encryption, or encryption can be an option under your standard operating
system.