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Shredding helps prevent identity theft
(by Kathryn A. Burger - May 20, 2008)
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Photo Courtesy Of Officer Peter Mauro
The Park Ridge Police D.A.R.E. Unit recently helped residents protect themselves from identity thieves and raised money for D.A.R.E. at the same time. On a recent Saturday, borough resident Joseph Vanacore, who owns and operates Information Destruction Services, donated the use of his mobile shredding truck, as well as his time, at an event that drew 60 people and raised $600 for D.A.R.E. Unit programs. Pictured at the event are from left, Anthony Vanacore, the son of IDS owner, D.A.R.E. Officer Peter Mauro; IDS owner Joseph Vanacore; Joe Verducci, IDS employee; and Paul Hurley, a former D.A.R.E. student.
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Don’t want to be a victim of identify theft? Shred. That’s one way to help prevent one of the fastest growing crimes in the country.
As one of its Community Policing initiatives, the Park Ridge Police Department recently released its own pamphlet on ways to prevent identity theft and what to do if someone thinks he or she has been a victim. One way to prevent identity theft is to properly discard unwanted documents that contain personal information like old tax returns, credit card bills, and bank statements. Putting them in with the newspapers to recycle isn’t good enough, the department cautions. The documents should be shredded.
The department’s D.A.R.E. Unit recently held a community service fundraising event that helped area residents protect themselves from thieves. On a recent Saturday, Information Destruction Services (IDS) staff parked the company’s mobile shredding truck at the DPW on Sulak Lane and D.A.R.E. Officer Peter Mauro, two borough high school teens, and IDS staffers conducted the four-hour event.
The truck is equipped with an industrial-size shredding machine. Sixty area residents availed themselves of the opportunity to dispose of unwanted documents in exchange for a $10 donation to D.A.R.E.
“All aspects of the operation were geared toward the privacy of the customer,” Mauro said. “For example, there was a video camera that allowed the customer to watch as the paperwork was destroyed, giving them peace of mind that the materials had in fact been shredded.”
The event was a success. “Residents responded positively to the event and more than 60 people stopped by with bags and papers to be shredded,” Mauro said. A $10 donation per bag or box of documents was suggested. “We shredded over one ton of paper,” Mauro said, “and raised more than $600 for our D.A.R.E. program.”
In addition to Mauro, IDS founder and owner, and a
Park Ridge resident Joseph Vanacore, and former borough D.A.R.E. students Jessica Elingsen, Paul Hurley and Anthony Vanacore, and IDS employee Joe Verducci, all assisted throughout the event.
Vanacore opened IDS, based in
Passaic , five years ago. There is small drop and shred operation there where customers can stop by with small amounts of material to be destroyed. The mobile truck used at the D.A.R.E. event provides on-site services.
Mauro had special thanks for Joseph Vanacore and his company. “The Park Ridge Police Department D.A.R.E. Unit would like to thank IDS for their generous donation and their concern for the protection of residents’ identities.”
Area residents may obtain a copy of the department’s “Protecting Yourself Against Identify Theft” at police headquarters, 33 Park Ave.
Kathryn A. Burger's e-mail address is burger@northjersey.com.
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