The goal of this series is to teach Gig Harbor and Key Peninsula residents and businesses how to protect themselves and their identity from falling prey to crime.

“Technological advances make data gathering and information sharing easier than ever before,” said Chief Mike Davis of the Gig Harbor Police Department. “The trend we’ve seen is that with the explosive growth of the Internet, it is easier than ever to collect personal information.”

The result is that identity thieves hijack other people’s personal information to make purchases or commit other crimes in their names. They then disappear —leaving victims with creditors and law enforcement breathing down their necks and an enormous mess to clean up.

This three-part series is being produced in partnership with the Gig Harbor Police Department, Pierce Country Sheriff’s Office, and Washington State Department of Corrections. CenturyTel joins these public agencies as the sole corporate partner of this year’s ID Theft Prevention Education Series.

Part I: Tues., Oct. 3, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Gig Harbor Civic Center, 3510 Grandview Street. It will feature Chief Deputy Brian Moran, from the Washington State Attorney General’s office, who will open the series with an overview of the work to address Washington State’s crisis with identity theft for both residents and businesses.

He will discuss how his office is helping consumers and businesses to protect their privacy, how people can take legal action where appropriate, and will detail his department’s work in developing legislative solutions to this enormous crisis. Victims of these crimes will also detail the impact on them, perpetrators will explain how you can protect yourself.

Part II: Tues, Oct.10, 6:30-8:30 pm, Gig Harbor Civic Center. It features Investigator Allen Myron, a member of the Pierce County Sheriff Department’s Peninsula Detachment. He will detail how criminals target consumers and businesses with the latest technology to hijack their identity. Through theft of computer hard drives and “phishing” email accounts, Investigator Myron will discuss how ID Thieves morph themselves into their victims. Gig Harbor Police Department Community Relations Officer, Lynn Mock, will present further information on how predators use the Internet to gain information about your children and target them as victims of crime.

Part III: Tues, Oct. 17, 6:30-8:30 pm, Gig Harbor Civic Center. This features more information on how to protect consumers and businesses alike from the most common sources of identity fraud, the U.S. Mail and your own vehicle. A U.S. Postal Investigator will give the latest information on how to prevent theft of identity through the mail. Also, Sergeant Kelly Busey of the Gig Harbor Police Department will detail how criminals gain access to your private information when they break into or “prowl” your vehicle.

Each of these educational events is open to the public. For more information contact the Gig Harbor Police Department’s business line at (253) 851-2236.