A 50-year-old woman reported fraudulent use of her credit card at Deerbrook Mall over the weekend, and police expect the numbers of such reports to continue to rise through the holiday season.

The woman last used her credit card on Friday, Dec. 11, and discovered it missing when someone attempted to use it on Dec. 12 to make a mall purchase.

Police report that the holidays are the prime time for thieves to steal credit cards and bank cards, with the intent to use them to purchase goods for their own holidays or to resell for profit.

Local store employees are advised to check identification when customers make credit or debit purchases, which is the best defense against this type of fraud, police say.