On April 20, Black Dog Shredding (2800 Vassar Drive NE) will offer a free document shredding event sponsored by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) of New Mexico. To prevent theft, the event will also include free vehicle VIN etching in addition to document destruction.
The CEO and president of BBB New Mexico and Southwest Colorado, David Swope, emphasized the importance of the occasion by pointing out that New Mexico is 39th in the US in terms of identity theft cases that have been reported, with an average loss of around $550 per case, or roughly $1.5 million in total in 2023.
People are allowed to bring up to two large trash bags or boxes full of paper documents for destruction between 9:00 a.m. and noon. Visitors can also recycle electronic waste in a secure manner, including batteries, computers, cell phones, VCRs, and cameras (though not televisions). The VIN etching event is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., and the first 500 automobiles will get exclusive giveaway gifts.
The BBB advises shredding a range of papers, such as:
- Pay stubs, bank statements, and medical bills older than a year
- Energy invoices more than one month ago
- solicitations for pre-approved credit cards or loans
- receipts from ATMs
- supporting tax records that are more than seven years old
Black Dog Shredding, Kirtland Credit Union, PC Place, KOB 4, Albuquerque Police Department, New Mexico Department of Justice, Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers, and IntelliTec College are just a few of the organizations that are supporting the event. These organizations are all committed to stopping identity theft in the community.
