False sense of security puts Brits at risk

Nearly three quarters of Brits know that burglars are now stealing personal documents yet only a third of us keep papers such as passports, driving licences and birth certificates safely under lock and key.

Surprisingly only 25% of us would notice immediately if our passport went missing, and only 1 in 5 of us would notice straight away if our birth certificate went astray. The document we'd miss the most is our driving licence, but even then only just over a third would notice the second it went missing meaning that two thirds of us are leaving ourselves vulnerable to identity fraudsters.

According to research conducted by identity theft firm CPP; this blasé attitude towards the safety of our personal details is in part down to a false sense of security. 92% of people believe that their home is secure against burglary yet 15% have been burgled in the past, suggesting that not all of our homes are as secure as we think. No matter how safe you think your home is you can never do too much to keep your private documents out of the wrong hands.

These stats are concerning; particularly since burglars are now stealing personal information as ID fraud is now a very lucrative crime. The average cost of the crime per identity is now £8,000 driven by multiple lines of credit being taken out. Danny Harrison, identity theft expert at CPP, said: "Don't leave personal information lying around the house. We have had cases of ID theft where friends, neighbours and even family have stolen personal documents and taken out big loans, mail order and credit cards."

With the number of identity theft victims constantly on the rise it is more important than ever to be vigilant about your details. Fraudsters can use personal details listed on your driving licence, passport, birth certificate, bank statements, bills and National Insurance card to get through your bank's security measures and get to your money.

For more information visit Cpp.co.uk.