In June, there were several cases of check fraud in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno, including checks that were stolen and then used, a tax refund check altered and cashed in another name, and a bill with an enclosed check stolen from a mailbox.

There was even a car purchased at South Bay Honda with a counterfeit check.

The cases of identity theft have skyrocketed in the past 15 years, and Los Gatos-Monte Sereno Police Department detective, Sgt. Mike Barbieri, thinks it will continue to increase.

"Bad checks used to be the bread and butter cases. Now, it's identity theft," Barbieri said.

Bank of the West financial services consultant Diane Trone said it has become much easier to duplicate checks, create fake identifications and steal numbers from credit cards.

Often, for victims of check fraud, they do not find out something has been taken from them until several months later.

In one instance, a Monte Sereno resident made a police report about a stolen tax refund check. The resident, however, did not find out until two months later.

"Most people just don't look at their bank statements," Trone said.

Trone said she keeps all her receipts until she receives her bank statement. After she checks the bank statements, she destroys her receipts.

Unfortunately, check fraud cases not only take a long time to be noticed, they also take even longer to investigate.

"Once they report to us that they were victims of identity theft, I tell them they're a year out," detective Leyton Howard said.

Howard said that because one suspect could have stolen as many as 60 victims' identities, the investigation can become extremely time-consuming.

There are several ways to alter checks. In most cases, Trone said when a check is "acid washed," something as common as oven cleaner erases the handwriting. This can happen when, for example, a bill with a check is stolen from your mailbox.

This can be avoided by taking the bill to the post office. Some people pay bills online, but detective Clint Tada said that can also be dangerous.

"There are sites created to look like a bank. After you enter your information, hackers could just take it," Tada said.

Another example of check fraud occurs when someone steals individual checks. The thief would then either create fake identification to match the name on the check, or simply use it to pay bills.

Individuals can also create their own checks by using computer software and authentic-looking check paper.

Barbieri said that even though residents might perceive Los Gatos as a safe haven, it still has its crime. He advises residents to not invite theft.

"Many of these thieves are opportunistic. Why give them an opportunity to be a thief?" he asks.

Now, the most common crime in Los Gatos is property theft, and Barbieri relates it to another crime: drug use, specifically methamphetamine.

"There's a lot of meth in this town," he said. Drug users often become addicted and turn to burglary and identity theft as a means to support their habit.

He advises residents not to leave expensive items in sight in the car, to lock the car doors and put any items in the trunk.

"For whatever reason, residents are still leaving the doors to their houses and cars unlocked," Barbieri said.

Although Los Gatans may have been able to do that 15 years ago, it seems to be time for a change.