Dumpster diving is a popular activity in large cities where there are many homeless people looking for food, clothing and household items that have been discarded.  Most people would think this is a disgusting activity, but to the identity thief, the average trash can is worth over $30,000.

Dumpster diving is not a crime if the trash can is left in a public place.  If it is out on the curb, anyone can pick it up and carry it away.  Dumpster diving is only a crime if the trash can is sitting on private property, like beside the house or garage.  Public dumpsters like those by apartment buildings are not off limits to the dumpster diver. 

So, if your trash is out by the curb, the trash picker can go through it and find the valuable information needed to create new accounts, clean out existing accounts and take over other personal aspects of your life.  Stealing identities is quick and easy.  Sadly, it can take years to straighten out the mess.

People need to protect themselves from identity theft.  The easiest way to protect your identity is to shred everything that contains personal information about you and your family.  Use a quality shredder that cross-cuts your documents, turning them to confetti, and making it impossible for the identity thief to put the pieces of your life together just to destroy it.

Identity theft can be prevented by taking the time to properly dispose of paid bills, credit card pre-approval letters, mortgage refinance offers and anything that contains personal information, account numbers or social security numbers.  Shred everything than contains personal information before putting it into the trash.

This article was written by Sherman Rogers of All-waste, LLC; a dumpster rental company who provides dumpster delivery service and same-day dumpster pick-up service to residential, commercial, retail and industrial customers.  Sherman has the size, shape and competitive priced dumpster for any size job.  Other services include container service, trash pick-up, hauling rubble, waste removal, delivery of landscaping supplies including mulch, sod, top-soil, crush aggregate and more.  Visit http://thegarbageman.com/ for more information about services offered.