Littleton Police Department

What Identity Theft Is

Identity theft involves acquiring key pieces of someone's identifying information, such as:

• Name
• Address
• Date of birth
• Social security number

in order to impersonate them. This information enables the identity thief to commit numerous forms of fraud that include, but are not limited to:

• Taking over a victim's financial accounts
• Opening new bank account
• Filing a false tax return to collect a refund
• Applying for loans, credit cards and social security benefits
• Renting apartments and establishing services with utilities and phone companies

How to Prevent Identity Theft

• Shred sensitive documents with a personal shredder (including pre-approved credit card applications
• Never give personal information over the phone, unless you initiated the call. Protect personal information; release only if absolutely necessary
• Change your driver's license number to a randomly assigned "S" number
• Carry only those credit cards you use regularly, and cancel all unused credit cards.
• Beware of mail, telephone, email or fax solicitations disguised as promotions
• Report all lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
• Closely review all credit card statements each month to detect unusual activity or unauthorized charges
• Be very cautious about sending personal identifying information over the Internet
• Do not routinely carry your social security card in your wallet or purse
• Memorize all pin numbers and passwords. Do not record them on any cards, or anywhere in your wallet or purse.
• Do not fall for "phishing" emails or pop-ups where they try to lure you to provide personal information, or make payments.
• If you suspect that your mail is being stolen or tampered with, contact your local post office or postal inspector
• As a Massachusetts resident, you are entitled to a free copy of your credit report each year. Exercise this right, and check your credit report closely for accuracy

Steps to Recover From Identity Theft

If someone stole your identity, act fast. Fast action can help reduce the damage identity theft can cause.

Call the Littleton Police Department at 978-540-2300 or visit the station, located at 500 Great Road in Littleton, and an officer will take a report.

Contact any of the three major credit bureaus and ask that they place a "fraud alert" on your credit report. The three credit bureaus share information, so you only need to contact one of them.

Equifax Credit Information Services
Phone: 800-525-6285
P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241

Experian Information Solutions
Phone: 888-397-3742
P.O. Box 9530
Allen, TX 75013

TransUnion
Phone: 800-680-7289
Fraud Victims Assistance Division
P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790

Contact the fraud department at each creditor or bank that provided the thief with unauthorized credit, goods or services. Provide them with the police department's case number. Keep detailed records of these conversations.

Contact financial institutions with which you have open accounts, even if these accounts have not yet been accessed or used fraudulently. Explain the situation to them. You may need to close these accounts or change the account numbers.

Contact the Federal Trade Commission online and report the case.

Notice: Please check your spam folder after requesting a report to ensure that you receive the response to your request.

How to Submit A Request

• Online Form
• Email Public Records
• First Class Mail/In Person: Fill out Report Request Form (PDF) and mail/deliver to:
  Littleton Police Department
  Attention: Kimberly Murphy
  500 Great Road
  Littleton, MA 01460

Note: Our department has 10 Business Days to disseminate the report(s) you requested in conformity with the provisions of MGL Chapter 66 § 10. We release records considered public under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 4 § 7, while applying statutory exemptions allowed by law to protect personal privacy and security interests. If such records are requested, the town may deny the request and will notify you of the reasons for the denial or some information may be redacted from our response. Examples of information that is prohibited from release include: student records, certain vital records, criminal record information, personnel or medical files, records that would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy, certain investigatory law enforcement materials.

See more information on MA Public Records Law.

Fees

The department may charge fees for records as follows:

• $0.05 per page for records picked up in person/mailed
• Actual cost for storage devices or materials such as CDs or USB drives
• Postage fees (where applicable); and
• Fees for employee time ($25 per hour) required to satisfy a public records request which includes the time spent searching for, compiling, segregating, redacting and reproducing a requested record. If a fee is to be charged, you will received a Good Faith Estimate of the cost to produce the records. The department will require payment before fulfilling any request.

Motor Vehicle Crash Reports

If you are involved in a motor vehicle accident which caused personal injury, death, or over $1,000 worth of property damage, then you are required by Massachusetts Law to file a Motor Vehicle Crash Operator Report within five days of the accident. This is required even if a Law Enforcement Officer was at the scene. Once you submit your completed Crash Operator Report, we can disseminate the accident report to you.