Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies are planning their annual Safe Shred event on June 10.

Sheriff’s Department officials are giving residents the chance to get rid of any sensitive documents or old electronics in a safe and eco-friendly way.

Documents are limited to five (11” x 12”x 15”) boxes per car, which include all types of paper, empty binders, computer disks and expired credit cards.

The event will also be accepting computer hard drives, monitors, and any electronic device which plugs into a standard home outlet. Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station deputies will be collecting items from 7 a.m. to  noon Saturday, June 10 on the corner of Citrus Street and Magic Mountain Parkway in the Westfield Valencia Town Center parking lot.

The following is a list of tips for preventing identity theft:

• Secure your social security number (SSN). Don’t carry your social security card in your wallet or write your number on your checks. Only give out your SSN when absolutely necessary.
• Don’t respond to unsolicited requests for personal information (your name, birthdate, social security number, or bank account number) by phone, mail, or online.
• Watch out for “shoulder surfers.” Shield the keypad when typing your passwords on computers and at ATMs.
• Collect mail promptly. Ask the post office to put your mail on hold when you are away from home for several days.
• Pay attention to your billing cycles. If bills or financial statements are late, contact the sender.
• Review your receipts. Promptly compare receipts with account statements. Watch for unauthorized transactions.
• Shred receipts, credit offers, account statements, and expired cards, to prevent “dumpster divers” from getting your personal information.
• Store personal information in a safe place at home and at work.
• Install firewalls and virus-detection software on your home computer.
• Create complex passwords that identity thieves cannot guess easily. Change your passwords if a company that you do business with has a breach of its databases.
• Order your credit report once a year and review to be certain that it doesn’t include accounts that you have not opened. Check it more frequently if you suspect someone has gained access to your account information.

Click here for the full article from usa.gov.