Community Shred Days Organized to Fight Identity Theft

As tax season comes to a close, township residents interested in safely disposing of sensitive documents will soon have two free opportunity thanks to a grant allowing Bernards to host its second community shred day.

The first of two opportunities will occur in Bernardsville at the municipal complex on 166 Mine Brook Road on Saturday, June 5, and the Bernards Township Engineering Services Building will hold a second shred day in Basking Ridge on Oct. 9. Both events will be held from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Documents will be shredded by trained, licensed and bonded document-destruction specialists, according to information provided by the township. Residents can deliver their documents in person in any type of container. The documents will be collected and shredded by the specialists, and residents may stay to watch the process if they desire.

Mayor Scott Spitzer said in a prepared statement, "Identity theft is a growing problem to our personal security. We want to help our residents protect themselves and address this problem by the free and safe destruction of sensitive, but out of date documents like old tax returns, bank and brokerage statements, medical records and other documents with personal information.  The most recent estimates are that 10 million citizens were affected last year."

According to numbers provided by the township, the Better Business Bureau and Javelin Strategy & Research conducted a study in 2007 that reported over 30 million people have been victimized by identity theft, representing $49.3 billion in losses and $5,720 per victim.

Mayor Spitzer led a similar effort last year and said at the April 13 Township Committee meeting, "It was very well attended and there was a great deal of appreciation [among residents]. It worked out very well, so I urge residents to take advantage of this program, which is designed in significant part to address the problem of identity theft."