When you’re on the road, the last thing you want to worry about is getting your identity stolen. But identity theft has gone up a whopping 22 percent in the last year, so here’s what you need to know.

Before you leave home, lock up your valuables and any sensitive documents.

That might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s easy to forget when you’re in a hurry.

If you’re traveling more than a couple of days, put your mail on hold at the post office.

And never carry all your credit cards with you, and leave the social security card behind.

But remember, you’re more secure paying with a credit card than a debit card—the protections are similar, but you don’t want someone wiping out your account while you’re on the road.

And this one is very important—alert your credit-card company if you’re traveling for a long time, especially if you’re going abroad.

Keep a list of phone numbers for your credit-card companies in case your wallet is lost or stolen, so you can immediately put a hold on those accounts.

For more hints, check out our Safety & Security section.

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