Hundreds of Colorado residents were advised to guard their credit after burglars stole driver's licenses and personal information in two recent burglaries at state motor vehicles offices, the Rocky Mountain News reports.

The break-ins, a week apart, happened at the Evergreen and Castle Rock offices and followed two similar thefts last year. From 1992 to 1997, reported incidents of identity theft increased nationwide from 35,000 to more than 520,000, according to the Colorado Attorney General's Office.

As a prevention measure, the state has ordered equipment that will allow clerks to punch the word "void" into old licenses. Officials will then return the cards to the license holders for disposal.