Identity theft is the wrongful use of another person's identifying information--such as credit card, social security, or driver's license numbers--to commit financial or other crimes. Identity thieves obtain information on their victims through such means as information discarded in garbage cans, stealing mail or wallets, eavesdropping on conversations in public, tricking victims into revealing the information on the phone, stealing the information from a loan or credit application, and obtaining it from the victim's computer. Surveys of various police agencies across the country have found that identity theft is increasing; it poses a unique challenge to law enforcement agencies because of the crime's anonymity, the involvement of multiple jurisdictions, and companies' lax security measures and lack of cooperation with law enforcement investigators; and most law enforcement officers believe new policies would help deter identity theft. In the latter area, the Fair and Accurate Credit Act of 2003 (FACT) establishes requirements for consumer reporting agencies, creditors, and others to help remedy identity theft. Under FACT, victims are required to have a police report that documents the identity theft in order to have certain privileges afforded them to help remedy losses due to the theft. It is imperative for local law enforcement agencies to train officers and investigators in reporting, investigating, and preparing cases for courts. Agencies should also conduct community awareness programs to inform the public on how to prevent identity theft, as well as on the procedure to follow if it does occur. 5 notes