| As the saying goes, one man's trash is another man's | | | | information can be deciphered about your habits. |
| treasure, but perhaps not in the ways that you'd | | | | Savvy burglars can even use the timing of your trash |
| expect. Unfortunately, these days we must be very | | | | pickup to their advantage. Trash cans that are put |
| careful about the information we share about | | | | outside several days before the pickup, left by the |
| ourselves. Personal information, even facts that seem | | | | curb for days after the pickup, or don't get put out |
| innocuous, can affect our personal and home security | | | | on the regular trash day often indicate that the home |
| if they get into the wrong hands. | | | | is empty. When you leave for an extended period of |
| How does this personal information about us get out? | | | | time, your home is at its most vulnerable. If you are |
| Well, one of the main ways identity thieves and | | | | on vacation, have a neighbor move your trash cans |
| other criminals get their information is through our | | | | so that the home looks occupied. When you are at |
| trash. Your trash, perhaps surprisingly, is a treasure | | | | home, avoid placing your garbage outside until the |
| trove of information for thieves. Your bank | | | | night before trash pickup; otherwise, your trash is |
| statements, credit card applications, bills, and any | | | | simply waiting for criminals to sort through it. |
| other information that is the least bit personal should | | | | Your garbage can is surprisingly available to thieves |
| be shredded, not simply thrown in the garbage. If | | | | the second you put it outside. In fact, in many areas |
| you don't have a shredder, get one, and use it often. | | | | there are no laws at all regarding dumpster diving or |
| It's better to err on the side of caution than to leave | | | | taking away personal trash that a homeowner has |
| yourself open to identity theft. | | | | left by the curb on garbage pickup day. The |
| Your trash doesn't just hold information for identity | | | | information is simply there for the taking by any |
| thieves, but also burglars, as well. Your vacation | | | | unscrupulous criminal who happens to see it. |
| confirmations, receipts for the purchase of jewelry or | | | | While it may seem overzealous to pay so much |
| electronics, and party invitations can indicate to | | | | attention to what we're throwing away, it is much |
| burglars when you'll be away from the home and | | | | better to be overly cautious than to find yourself the |
| what they can expect to find if they break in. | | | | target of identity theft or a home burglary. Everyone |
| Information on the lawncare, housecleaning, and utility | | | | needs to be careful with the information they share |
| services you employ can be used by a creative | | | | with the world, even if it's being shared through your |
| burglar who dresses up in these uniforms to get into | | | | garbage. Be careful what goes in that trash can, |
| your home. Even personal letters, notes containing | | | | because you can never really know where it will go |
| friends' phone numbers, and shopping lists can be of | | | | from there. |
| use. When pieced together, a surprising amount of | | | | |