If your laptop is stolen, can you provide a full description for the police? Write down your computer's make, model, color and most importantly, the unique serial number, which acts as a key identifier, much like the vehicle identification number (VIN) on a car.

If they're successful, months can pass before a cardholder discovers the fraud. After all, if your wallet hasn't been stolen and you haven't misplaced a card, you may be puzzled to discover that your card has been compromised even though it's safely tucked away the entire time. While it might not be the simplest way to commit an identity theft, card shaving is on the rise. "Desperate times mean desperate measures," said Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and author of "The Safety Minute: Living on High Alert."

"In this economy, we are seeing scams of all kinds resurfacing, including credit card shaving." You might also need this information in case you want to file an insurance claim. Install a tracking device. Use a GPS tracking device that runs invisibly on the computer to relocate the stolen property.

Use a multi-layered security approach. MyLaptopGPS's six layers of protection, including permanent tagging, GPS tracking, covert data recovery, remote data deletion, stolen property tracing, and property registration, are only $9.95 per month per computer. Other GPS tracking devices can be purchased individually and cost anywhere from $50 to $400.