Politics & Government

Stop Identity Thieves with County's Secure Shred Events

Dispose of documents often used to gain control of accounts at one of 11 county events in 2013, which begin Saturday in Hillsborough.

Sometimes there's just not enough days to go around, but each week we'll give you an idea of something to do to relax, spend time with family or just take some time for yourself.

And taking steps to protect yourself from identity theft may help make sure you're able to fully enjoy time with your family later—which is why we're featuring Somerset County's Operation Secure Shred events this week, which begins with an event Saturday in Hillsborough. 

You've surely seen the headlines about identity theft—it's the fastest category of crime, according to law enforcement officials. The “2013 Identity Fraud Report,” released in February 2013 by Javelin Strategy & Research, reported identity fraud incidents increased by more than one million victims and fraudsters stole more than $21 billion in 2012, the highest amount since 2009.

Find out what's happening in Watchung-Green Brookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The study found 12.6 million victims of identity fraud in the United States in the past year, which equates to one victim every three seconds.

But you can help protect yourself and your family by using the Operation Secure Shred events to dispose of documents, bills, anything with vital information that could be used by thieves to gain access to your credit and bank accounts. The board of freeholders and the county’s Consumer Protection and Records Management offices will be sponsoring 11 such events throughout the county in 2013 for county residents.

Find out what's happening in Watchung-Green Brookwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

At Operation Secure Shred, documents will be shredded safely, privately and properly by trained, licensed and bonded document-destruction specialists.  Staples and paperclips do not have to be removed. Residents may bring documents in up to six boxes, containers or bags per visit and will be asked to take back their receptacles. Stay and watch your documents get shredded, if you want, but please don't bring junk mail, magazines or newspapers.

Shredding will be done between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., rain or shine at the Somerset County Public Work Garage, on Roycefield Road in Hillsborough

Shredding will continue throughout the scheduled hours, with two trucks on-site.  

Can't make it to Hillsborough Saturday morning? Save your materials and head for one of the remaining shredding events planned:

  • May 18 at Montgomery Fire Co. No. 1 in Belle Mead-33 Griggstown Road; 
  • June 1 in Hillsborough at the Auten Road School parking lot-281 Auten Road; 
  • June 15 at the Watchung Police Facility parking lot-840 Somerset St.;
  • June 22 at the Bridgewater Municipal Building parking lot-100 Commons Way; 
  • June 29 at the Bedminster Public Works parking lot-75 Miller Lane; 
  • Sept. 7 at the Franklin Municipal Building parking lot-475 DeMott Lane in Somerset; 
  • Sept. 21 at the Bound Brook commuter parking lot-100 East Main St., across from Dunkin Donuts; 
  • Sept. 28 at the Branchburg Municipal Building parking lot-1077 U.S. Highway 202 North; 
  • Oct. 12 at the Bernards Engineering Services parking lot-277 S. Maple Ave. in Basking Ridge;
  • Oct. 19 at the Green Brook Municipal Building parking lot-111 Green Brook Road. 

If you've already been a victim of identity theft, the Federal Trade Commission provides a comprehensive 68-page booklet titled “Taking Charge: What To Do If Your Identity Is Stolen” at www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0009-taking-charge.pdf.

For further information, contact the Somerset County Division of Consumer Protection at 908-203-6080 orconsumerprotection@co.somerset.nj.us or Records Management at 908-203-6018 orrecordsmgmt@co.somerset.nj.us.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Watchung-Green Brook