Working with the United States Secret Service, they conducted the first study on a crime that is growing at an alarming rate: Identity Theft. For one year, a select group of students at UC studied more than 500 closed cases of identity theft at the request of the secret service. They were asked to take a look at these cases of a six year time period and collect as much information as possible on important characteristics of offenders, offenses and victims.

In their findings, they noticed some surprising trends. About half of ID theft offenders use simple tactics to steal your personal information like searching through mailboxes, dumpster diving, and re-routing mail. Companies offer services to protect individuals from identity theft, but businesses are just as vulnerable. The college said they found many retail stores, restaurants and financial service industry banks also become victimized.

This is just a preliminary report but UC professors say it is a start to facilitate better proactive efforts. Possibly talking to business leaders about how can you prevent these crimes and individuals as well as what things should you know to help yourself become less vulnerable to being victimized.

SOME SIMPLE TIPS OF PREVENTION:

> SHRED EVERYTHING
Most identity thieves still resort to dumpster diving.

> CHECK YOUR MAILBOX
Thieves will go through your mailbox, especially in the summer months when most people go on vacation.

> BE CAUTIOUS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION
Always ask questions, especially when people want things like your social security number.