A VICTIM of car crime has warned others to be more responsible with personal belongings after the reality of identity fraud hit home.

Anji Chalkley's car was ransacked in Homebase car park as she shopped for a paddling pool in the High Wycombe store.

Thieves forced their way into the boot of her Nissan X-Trail and stole a work laptop, bank statements and personal documents during the theft last month.

Mrs Chalkley, of Amersham Hill Drive, High Wycombe, said: "The whole experience has been extremely enlightening for me. This business of identity fraud has really hit home.

"It's only afterwards, when you think about it, the reality of what could happen dawns on you.

"These people can ruin our lives."

Although the mother-of-one managed to cancel credit cards and alert the relevant authorities in time, the experience still proved a sobering one.

She added: "There was all sorts of private information stored on my computer. God knows what they could have done.

"These people are professionals, and they can ruin our lives in an instant.

"I really, really want people to be aware of what these people are doing.

"We have to be extra careful, we have to try and combat this threat."

Identity fraud is a 21st century crime.

Silent, hidden, difficult to investigate, it is the fastest-growing type of fraud in the UK and costs Britain £1.3billion a year.

Frank Yabsley, home safety officer for Buckinghamshire Trading Standards, said nothing should be left to chance and urged people to destroy bills and statements.

He added: "You only need a utility bill and a driving licence to open a bank account. It's that simple. Before you know it someone is spending your money.

"Never leave anything in your car, especially laptops.

"Even if cars look empty thieves will target the boot. Before you know it you're thousands of pounds in the red."

According to the National Criminal Intelligence Service tens of thousands of people have their identity stolen every week.

In many cases the source of information is traced to documents dumped in refuse sacks and bins.

The Home Office describe identity fraud as when someone takes over a totally fictitious name or adopts the name of another person with or without their consent.

A spokesman said: "It affects individuals, government departments and private sector organisations. It often forms part of more serious criminal operations such as people trafficking and drug smuggling."