On another subject; be vigilant and cautious about what you deposit in the garbage to be disposed by the “infamous” trash truck. A person might reason “it is my garbage and what I put in it is my business”. There is a certain truth to that reasoning. The fly in this ointment, is that shady characters wishing to know more of your personal business do not share your view. There at least two kinds of folks willing to dig through your trash; identity thieves and those seeking drugs.

The identity thief will be overjoyed to find bank statements, credit card statements, identification documents and the like. Any card that has a “reader” strip on it, and is intact, can be read by a card reader in the hands of a resourceful “geek”, with the right equipment and knowledge. The information contained in this strip can include: Social Security number, driver’s license number, address, age, account number and other information; opening your financial life to the thief. This information does not disappear when the card expires. If you put an expired card in the garbage the information remains embedded in the strip.

The drug seekers are looking for prescription medicine containers, statements or labels. If this person knows which drugs are in your residence, he knows whether or not it is worth his while to break in. By observing the prescription fill date he has a good notion of how much of the desired drug is in your possession. If he does break in and you are at home; he has to decide whether or not to leave you there as a witness. This is not a situation anyone wishes to be part of; especially the elderly or frail.

There is a third person who will dig through your trash is….me. If I find your trash where it should not be; I will dig through it, identify it and come see you.