Published: November 07, 2009 04:51 pm      

Free document destruction events set

Hays County is offering residents the opportunity to have their sensitive personal papers shredded, free of charge, to help protect them from becoming victims of identity theft.

The county, working with Cintas Document Management of Buda, will accept and shred boxes of personal papers at several locations and times around the county this month.

Identity theft occurs when a criminal gains access to your identifying information, such as a name, address, social security number or credit card number and uses that information for fraudulent purposes – stealing money from bank accounts, opening credit accounts or applying for loans.

“Start sorting through your household papers that have your name, address and other information that could be used to steal your identity, box them up, and bring them to one of our shredding locations,” said Ron Knott, director of Maintenance for Hays County. “Don’t make sensitive information available to potential thieves by throwing those documents out in the trash.”

Only documents from individuals, not businesses, will be accepted. The shredded documents will then be recycled by Cintas, keeping them out of landfill.

Shredding will be available to the public on Friday, Nov. 13, from 8 a.m. to noon at the county courthouse in San Marcos (drop off at the inlet on eastbound Hopkins Street/RR 12 or take advantage of free parking around the Courthouse).

On Saturday, Nov. 14, from 8-10:30 a.m. at the Precinct 3 Office, 114306 RR 12 in Wimberley; from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Precinct 4 Office, 195 Roger Hanks Parkway in Dripping Springs and from 2-4:30 p.m. at Lowes Home Improvement parking lot, 5753 Kyle Parkway in Kyle.