Don’t let yourself become a victim of one of the fastest growing crimes today — identity theft. So how do you protect yourself? First, understand what it is, as well as understanding the type of information you need to protect.

It is acknowledged that some information will be public such as name, address and perhaps your phone number. However, other information such as your birthplace, mother’s maiden name, social security number, credit card number and so on, needs to be protected.

How does your identity get stolen? Here are few ways, along with tips to help prevent identity theft.

• Your identity can be stolen through the mail. Make sure you don’t leave your mail in an unsecured mailbox — especially for long periods of time. If you go out of town, have your mail put on a vacation hold at the post office. Purchase a locking mailbox. Deposit mail only in postal service collection boxes.

• Your laptop or computer is a prime location for having your identity stolen. Many of us do not realize how dangerous an unsecured computer is for our personal information. Make sure you install anti-virus and anti-spyware programs, as well as firewalls and security software. You don’t want people looking at your tax calculator and tax returns. Be cautious when shopping online. Shop on secure sites only. If you are using a wireless connection, make sure it is encrypted. If you decide to sell your computer, erase or better yet, replace the hard drive.

• Believe it or not, your trash can be used to steal your identity. Don’t discard any type of personal document that includes bank account information, social security numbers, credit card information and so on. Shred these documents before discarding them, and don’t go cheap on the shredder — get one that crosscuts.