The government estimates nearly 750,000 Americans are victims of identity theft every year and Karen Lodrick of San Francisco was one of them. There wasn't much hope of catching whoever stole her information, until, in a remarkable combination of luck and quick thinking, she went on a wild chase to catch the thief who stole her identity.
 
Even more remarkable, during the entire 45-minute pursuit on the streets of San Francisco, Karen was on her cell phone with 911.

Karen's nightmare started when someone broke into her mailbox and stole bank statements and credit card solicitations.
 
A grainy bank surveillance photo was the only clue and showed a woman in a suede overcoat with a distinctive fur trim using an ATM card in Karen's name.

While getting coffee at a Starbucks, Karen saw a woman wearing a coat that looked just like the woman in the surveillance photo.  She approached her and the chase was on.
 
As Karen was on the phone with 911, the suspect jumped into a cab, and just like in the movies, Karen hailed her own taxi and told the driver follow that cab.  When the suspect got out of the cab Karen confronted her.

The conversation was captured on the 911 call:

Karen:  You [expletive] I know who you are.  I know who you [expletive] are.  Don't let her go!  Don't let her go! Don't let her go she is a crook.
Woman:  I'm not.
Karen:  Yes you are.

Cops arrived and arrested Maria Nelson who was already on probation for another fraud conviction.

In an interview with INSIDE EDITION Nelson denied she stole Karen's identity and downplayed her involvement, saying, "There isn't my side of the story, basically I was at Starbucks and I got arrested."

But Nelson cut a deal and pled guilty.  She got probation and was ordered to make restitution.

Karen believes justice wasn't served in her case, but she's happy she played a role in catching the woman who stole her identity.

There's no ironclad protection that guarantees that you'll never fall victim to some form of identity theft. But there are steps you can take to protect yourself, many of which are rather simple:

1. Destroy private records and statements. Tear up -- or, if you prefer, shred -- credit card statements, solicitations and other documents that contain private financial information.

2. Secure your mail. Empty your mailbox quickly, lock it or get a P.O. box so criminals don't have a chance to snatch credit card pitches. Never mail outgoing bill payments and checks from home. They can be stolen from your mailbox and the payee's name erased with solvents. Mail them from the post office or another secure location.

3. Safeguard your Social Security number. Never carry your card with you, or any other card that may have your number, like a health insurance card. And don't put your number on your checks. It's the primary target for identity thieves because it gives them access to your credit report and bank accounts.

4. Don't leave a paper trail. Never leave ATM, credit card or gas station receipts behind.

5. Never let your credit card out of your sight. Worried about credit card skimming? Always keep an eye on your card or, when that's not possible, pay with cash.

6. Know who you're dealing with. Whenever anyone contacts you asking for private identity or financial information, make no response other than to find out who they are, what company they represent and the reason for the call. If you think the request is legitimate, contact the company yourself and confirm what you were told before revealing any of your personal data.

7. Take your name off marketers' hit lists. In addition to the national Do-Not-Call registry (1-888-382-1222), you can also cut down on junk mail and opt out of credit card solicitations.

8. Be more defensive with personal information. Ask salespeople and others if information such as a Social Security or drivers license number is absolutely necessary. Ask anyone who does require your Social Security number -- for instance, your insurance company -- what their privacy policy is and whether you can arrange for the organization not to share your information with anyone else.

9. Monitor your credit report. Obtain and thoroughly review your credit report (now available for free at annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877-322-8228) at least once a year to look for suspicious activity. If you spot something, alert your card company or the creditor immediately. You may also want to subscribe to a credit protection service, like Experian's CreditCheck, which alerts you any time a change takes place with your credit report.

10. Review your credit card statements carefully. Make sure you recognize the merchants, locations and purchases listed before paying the bill. If you don't need or use department store or bank-issued credit cards, consider closing the accounts.

Source: MSN Money