IDENTITY theft in the Vale is being highlighted by West Mercia police in a bid to inform the community on how to prevent becoming victims of the crime.

Detective Constable Robin Longmore of the force's economic crime unit has issued the warning to raise awareness of identity theft, which is now one of the fastest growing areas of crime and affects 100,000 people in the UK each year costing the UK's economy £1.7 billion.

"Identity theft occurs when personal information is used by someone else without the victim's knowledge," said DC Longmore.

"If a criminal can find out someone's details, they can use their name to open bank accounts, get credit cards and loans or apply for state benefits and documents such as passports and driving licences. As a result the victim may have difficulty getting loans, credit cards or mortgages until the matter is sorted out."

The key documents and information that a criminal wants include passports, driving licences, share certificates, bank account details such as cheque books, debit cards and receipts and credit card details..

"People need to become more suspicious if items appear on their bank or credit card statements that they do not recognise or bills are addressed to them for goods or services they have not asked for," added DC Longmore.