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The Police Department has received several reports of theft of mail from mailboxes, many thefts from vehicles, and several burglaries where identification including credit cards and credit card numbers are being fraudulently used.

If you are a victim of identity theft, connect with The Federal Trade Commission's website on ID theft. From there you can file a a complaint, learn what steps to take next, order publications, and obtain tips on how to recover from an identify theft.

To help avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, take the following precautions:

	Promptly remove mail from your mailbox after delivery.
	Deposit outgoing mail in post office collection mailboxes.
	Never give personal information over the telephone, such as your social security number, date of birth, mother's maiden name, credit card number or bank PIN code, unless you initiated the phone call. Protect this information and release it only when absolutely necessary.
	Shred credit application, credit card receipts, bills, and other financial information you don 't want before discarding them in the trash.
	Empty your wallet of extra credit cards and IDs, or better yet, cancel the ones you do not use and maintain a list of the ones you do.
	Never leave your credit cards in your car.
	Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately by phone and in writing.
	Call your nearest U.S. Postal Inspection Service office (612-349-0301) and the Police Department.
	Contact the Federal Trade Commission to report the Problem at 1-877-382-4357.
	Alert your bank to flag your account and contact you to confirm any unusual activity. Request a change of PIN and a new password.
	Contact the Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline at 1-800-447-8477.
	Contact the state office of the Department of Motor Vehicles at 651-296-6911 to see if another license was issued in your name. If so, request a new license number and fill out the DMV's complain form to begin the fraud investigation process.