According to statistics by the insurer Liverpool Victoria (LV=), 1 in 7 burglaries committed last year were solely for the purpose of stealing personal documentation, with 74% of the victims encountering some form of identity theft as a result. LV= believe the trend of this type of burglary is set to rise sharply over the next 5 years.
Credit cards, passports, driving licenses and bank statements are of particular value to thieves. Burglars can sell individual documents with personal details for up to £15 an item, while bundles of documents with the same identity can fetch £150, LV says. According to the report, a credit card coupled with a form of ID such as a bank statement, utility bill or National Insurance number, are highly sought after on the black market as they make it easier for criminals to steal an identity.
John O’Roarke, managing director of LV said: “As the trend for identity fraud increases, we would strongly urge homeowners to take appropriate measures to limit their chances of being targeted by thieves and fraudsters…Homeowners should ensure they store personal documents securely and if possible separately to minimise the risk of ID theft.”
