ONE IN THREE BRITONS RISKS IDENTITY THEFT WHEN MOVING HOME Even pet animals are among possessions left behind Almost a quarter (24 per cent) of people in the UK are leaving themselves open to identity theft when they move home by failing to re-direct their post, according to new research released today by identity protection service CreditExpert.co.uk from Experian®. Of the three quarters of movers (76 per cent) who re-direct their post, at least one in ten (11 per cent) is still at risk by leaving personal documents behind. Identity theft is one of the fastest growing crimes in the UK and Experian has identified moving home as one of the key events that put people at risk. Almost half (43 per cent) of identity theft cases in the UK have occurred at a previous address. Despite this, the CreditExpert.co.uk research shows a huge number of people leave behind key personal information when they move, which can be used to commit identity fraud. These include mail order catalogues addressed to them (11 per cent), personal mail / letters (nine per cent or 9%) and even bank statements and utility bills (2 per cent). Over one in four people (44 per cent) have left behind furniture and household accessories when moving house, with over a quarter (28 per cent) also forgetting to pack electrical goods and appliances. A small number have even left behind their pets, including cats, goats and fish – although no dogs.. If you are worried that you may have left behind personal information and could be at risk from identity theft, a credit monitoring service, such as CreditExpert.co.uk, will alert you to any changes to your credit report, so you can take any necessary action as soon as possible. Click here for a free 30-day trial of CreditExpert and a free copy of your credit report CreditExpert.co.uk Top Tips for moving house: 1. Re-direct your post as soon as you move - this will ensure your mail will not go to your previous address and cannot be intercepted 2. Buy a shredder – shred any personal documents before placing them in the bin 3. Inform your credit card companies, bank and other financial organisations you have a relationship with that you have moved – and make sure they update their systems 4. Register with the Mailing Preference Service at your old address 5. Sign up to CreditExpert.co.uk's free 30 day trial – use a credit monitoring service to keep tabs on your credit report and receive alerts if anyone fraudulently applies for credit using your identity Click here for a free 30-day trial of CreditExpert and a free copy of your credit report