SAN LEANDRO, Calif. (Jan. 5, 2003) – Amidst growing reports about identity theft and the clutter of tips and expensive products designed to stop it, BoomerangIt and the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) have developed the most practical, efficient and inexpensive solution yet.

With the new electronic version of McGruff^® ID Armor^®, e-McGruff ID Armor, a consumer can protect his or her name and credit in just 30 minutes, the time it takes to complete a few forms. It’s available online for just $7.95 at www.boomerangit.com.

McGruff^® ID Armor^® provides everything a consumer needs to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft, including all the needed forms for credit bureaus and direct marketers. It’s the only commercially available solution that acts BEFORE the crime occurs. Unlike good intentioned tips and advice about protecting yourself from identity theft, McGruff^® ID Armor^® is an all-in-one prevention tool consumers can easily use.

“With e-McGruff^® ID Armor^®, consumers can prevent identity theft from happening to them simply, quickly and for less than $8,” said Eddie Orton, CEO of BoomerangIt, Inc. “Consumers have been bombarded with information and tips, expensive credit monitoring products and costly identity theft insurance. Unlike McGruff^® ID Armor^®, these options take too much valuable time or money, offer a false sense of security or just try to mop up after a crime occurs.”

Consumers may now choose between the printed McGruff^® ID Armor^® versions (and handwrite the required information on the forms provided), or the electronic version, e-McGruff^® ID Armor^®, (and download a complete set of customized forms). Funds from sales of McGruff^® ID Armor^® go to support NCPC programs.

Identity theft occurs when someone obtains and uses a person’s personal information, such as a social security number, to commit credit card fraud or theft, or worse. More than 750,000 people per year fall victim to identity theft, spending an estimated 175 hours of their personal time and more than $800 to clear their names and restore their good credit ratings.

McGruff^® ID Armor^® empowers consumers to take proactive steps to prevent this crime. The pack also provides an extra measure of security, because it’s designed to detect fraudulent activity and allows law enforcement, businesses and credit issuers to collaborate to identify, apprehend and prove cases against perpetrators.

BoomerangIt’s original McGruff^® ID Armor^® Identity Theft Protection and Privacy Pack debuted at amazon.com last year and quickly won endorsement from key law enforcement agencies and consumers alike. In fact, the California Union of Safety Employees (CAUSE), representing 7,000 law enforcement workers, recently provided the kit to its members.

“Identity theft has become a national epidemic,” said Alan Barcelona, president of CAUSE. “We recommend McGruff^® ID Armor^® as the best protection against credit fraud, which can damage your credit and good name.”

About BoomerangIt, Inc. and McGruff^® ID Armor^®
BoomerangIt, Inc., based in San Leandro, Calif., develops products to assist individuals, businesses, organizations and other entities in recovering their lost or stolen possessions. Products include BoomerangIt Lost & Found Service, National Bike Registry (NBR®), and McGruff^® ID Armor^® Identity Theft Protection and Privacy Pack. BoomerangIt is the official lost and found service of the National Crime Prevention Council. For further information, visit the BoomerangIt Web site at www.boomerangit.com or call 1-800-2BOOMIT (1-800-226-6648).

About The National Crime Prevention Council
The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) is a private, nonprofit organization whose primary mission is to enable people to create safer and more caring communities by addressing the causes of crime and violence and reducing the opportunities for crime to occur. NCPC manages public service advertising under the National Citizens’ Crime Prevention Campaign—symbolized by McGruff^® ID Armor^® the Crime Dog and his “Take A Bite Out Of Crime®” slogan—and acts as secretariat for the Crime Prevention Coalition of America, a nonpartisan group of national, federal, state, and local organizations committed to preventing crime. NCPC is funded through a variety of government agencies, corporate and private foundations, and donations from private individuals. For more information on crime prevention issues, visit www.ncpc.org. for information on the National Citizens’ Crime Prevention Campaign, visit www.weprevent.org.