LEXINGTON (WSLS 10) -- The WSLS 10, Kodiak Shred-A-Thon kicked off Monday in a new location but with the same success as previous events across Southwest Virginia.
People in Lexington lined up early Monday morning, bringing at total of 20,000 pounds of documents to be shred.
Recommended Videos
"I brought five years worth of tax documentation that I've been carrying around, carting around I'm so glad to get rid of them now," said Dr. Percita Ellis who gathered bags full of papers filled with information attractive to identity thieves.
"It is such a relief to get it all done and because. It's got social security numbers, text ID number. I mean all the stuff, credit card numbers that people can go through your trash and get an identity theft."
Lexington Police say identity theft does happen here.
"We've seen people open bank accounts and other peoples names, file taxes," explained Capt. Mark Riley.
They steal a few critical pieces of information Riley said can be used to steal your identity.
"Signatures, social security numbers, birthdays and maiden names. Anything like that," continued Riley.
He said it's all about prevention.
"It's so important to shred this as a prevention tool rather then on the other end where you have to change your bank accounts credit cards things like that."
As Dale Rogers said, it's also a money saver to take part in the free WSLS 10 event, rather than calling a shred company yourself. He loaded up his truck and headed to Lexington from Daleville Monday morning.
"The cost to shred to have them come do it was really expensive," he said after one attempt to hire a shred company on his own.
His documents, dating back to 1998, are now safely destroyed.
The next WSLS 10 Shred-A-Thon will be in Danville, May 2 from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Additional events will be held in Christiansburg, Lynchburg and Roanoke the following weeks.