An indentity thief combs through garbage, looking for your latest bank statement. Or, in Elaine Rivera's case one broke into her pick-up.

"They threw everything on the ground, my credit cards, everything," the Grand Island mother of two said.

Now, as holiday gifts lure in shoppers, malls are also a prime target for identity thieves. Especially when they can use your information to walk out with a high-ticket item, like a diamond ring.

At Conestoga Mall, Riddle's Jewelry Assitant Manager Amy Lee said, 
"It is a problem with so many people around." 

And the problem is growing, according to GIPD Sergeant Kerry Cole.

"iIt's more of a problem now than prior," he said.

Twenty-five criminal impersonation cases have been filed in his department so far this year. Cole attributes that to computers, full of personal information. Now the Nebraska Attorney General's office is offering an identity theft repair kit to help you find yourself.

Cole said, "First, file a police report then close the account out."

Rivera did that. "I called the bank, cancelled my cards and everything."
But Cole says many skip the next step, a crucial one.

Call your credit bureau and get a copy of your credit reports, he said.

"No, I didn't do that," Rivera said.

Cole says many victims find purchases on that report they never made, months after the fact.
"The longer you put it off, the more access to your information," he said.

And you might also find the IRS after you, with back taxes on items you never purchased.

So to help the problem from even starting, mall stores like Riddle's Jewelry say they pay more attention to credit cards and asking for ID's during the Holidays.
"It does get asked a lot, but maybe not enough," Lee said. " We do check the back and if it's not signed, we definetely ask for ID."

To order an Identity Theft Repair Kit, visit www.ago.ne.gov. or call 800-727-6432.