Police have busted 4,382 cases of personal information theft, involving 5 billion pieces of stolen information, People's Daily reported Thursday.

More than 4,000 suspects have been arrested in three national crackdowns launched in 2012 and 2013, and at least 1,200 gangs selling and buying personal information illegally have been destroyed.

More than 200 suspects have been punished for providing, selling and obtaining personal information illegally, and the rest face punishment.