In December, Honolulu resident Christine B.'s life changed as she checked into a Waikiki hotel.

While inside, thieves popped open her car trunk and stole financial papers she'd taken from her house while it was treated for termites.

"They would have been safer with the termites," said Christine, a University of Hawai'i professor who asked her real name not be used. The thieves also raided her bank account, bought laptop computers, iPods and ran up a $500 drinks tab one night at a Waikiki nightclub.

"They were up all night spending on my credit card."

Christine's experience illustrates the potential threat that identity theft poses for the state's tourism industry.

Although it's difficult to find statistics on tourist-related identity thefts, Peter Tarlow, considered a leading expert on tourism and crime, says anecdotal evidence indicates the problem is increasing in vacation spots. He said Hawai'i isn't immune to this trend, though it probably isn't as bad as other beach resorts areas because of the attention local officials pay to tourism security.

"It appears to be a growing problem around the world," said Tarlow, who has consulted with the U.S. government on tourism security issues and helps train police departments in tourist areas. "It's just that tourism areas lend themselves to this crime because people come and go so quickly."

Identity theft has emerged as a leading concern for consumers as thieves use the Internet and other technology to pose as other people. The Federal Trade Commission, in a report released in February, said identity theft remains a top consumer problem, accounting for 36 percent of complaints it received in 2006. A survey by San Diego-based ID Analytics Inc. found Hawai'i had the sixth-worst record when it came to identity fraud.

Like everyone, tourists can be prey to people who break into cars when they see a purse or wallet on a seat. Thieves find opportunities to victimize people by swooping up unattended items on beaches and picking pockets. There are even so-called "door-pushers," who cruise hotel corridors, giving a nudge on doors to find one that's not completely shut.

The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawaii, an organization that helps tourist victims of crimes and accidents, said it's only received a few identity theft complaints. Last year, there was one case compared to the 631 reports of car break-ins it received. That one case had lasting effects, though, with the visitor reporting credit card problems for months after he went home, said Jessica Rich, society executive director.

"It's a very personal crime, and I know it's a very painful crime," said Rich, who noted some cases might not be reported to her group because the identity theft may be discovered after the vacation is over. In some identity theft cases, victims don't know where the theft occurred.

"People often don't realize it til months later," said Tarlow. Sometimes "it's very hard to track if this happened in your hometown, if it happened at a local convenience store by someone who moved on, or if it happened to people on vacation."

In Christine's case, the realization was almost instantaneous.

After she found the trunk open and documents missing, she began feverishly calling to shut down credit card and other accounts. Even then the criminals were able to use her cards and checks for a short time. The theft continues to give Christine problems.

"I'm still dealing with it," she said. "I have to get all the bills straightened out and everything changed over."

She did get some relief when police on Maui discovered some of her checks and other items when they arrested a visitor from the Mainland. She said the suspect was the same man photographed by a security camera at Central Pacific Bank as he took money out of her account.

She said the suspect was from the Mainland and was facing similar criminal charges in Las Vegas.

Bob Arno, a Las Vegas-based criminologist and co-author of "Travel Advisory!" a book about petty crime affecting travelers, said Christine's case may be unusual in that it involved someone from another state. He said his impression is that most tourism identity theft in Hawai'i is done by local drug users.

"It's a very common thing when you get guys on meth," Arno said, noting as Tarlow did that in Hawai'i, while it's on the increase, tourist identity theft isn't as bad as in Las Vegas and some other destinations. One reason is the quick-hitting nature of tourist crimes here and the industry's efforts to maintain a safe and secure vacation spot.

"I am absolutely sure the powers that be are watching," Arno said.

Reach Greg Wiles at gwiles@honoluluadvertiser.com.