Other Voices

IS THAT METH-HEAD USING YOUR NAME?

If the increasing numbers of methamphetamine users in the San Joaquin
Valley don't strike fear into your pocketbooks, consider that 70
percent of Fresno's identity theft cases are committed by meth addicts.

They stay up for days finding ways to steal your personal financial
information and then use it to run up thousands of dollars in
purchases in your name.

It is time to get serious about these two growing crimes... the
penalties must be stiffened for both crimes. Right now, the crooks
see these crimes as essentially free rides.

According to Alameda police Sgt. Tony Munoz, an expert in the
meth-identity theft connection. Munoz says that 90 percent of meth
addicts use identity theft to support their habits.

Meth is a national scourge, an estimated 12.3 million Americans 12
and older having tried the highly addictive meth at least once,
according to the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Last
year alone, 10 million Americans were victims of identity theft.

Crime victims who suffer from identity theft must deal with the
consequences for years. Their credit gets ruined immediately and it's
not simple to straighten out the problem. You can even be hounded by
collection agencies that don't buy your story that you're the victim,
even if you have police reports to prove it.

A story in Sunday's Bee recounted the toll the crime took on a Fresno
man after his identity was stolen during a break-in of his car parked
in front of his parents' house. His wallet was taken and the
nightmare began. He landed in jail before police finally sorted out
the facts and determining he was the victim of identity theft.

Meth and ID theft are a terrible combination for law-abiding
citizens. It's time that our elected officials recognize the
seriousness of these problems. They will only become more widespread
unless we make a commitment to solve them with the resources that the
problems require.

FRESNO BEE Fresno, Calif.