THUNDER BAY – On Saturday, Crime Stoppers hosted the annual shredding event, which helps prevent identity theft.
“All sorts of crimes are going on,” said Solade Nicol, Thunder Bay District Crime Stoppers chair.
“Scams and home invasions are going on. And with old documentation lying down somewhere, it gives people the opportunity to scam victims.”
Crime Stoppers employees were at Intercity Shopping Centre shredding Thunder Bay residents’ old documentation.
Each banker’s box of old documents cost $5 to shred and the employees were accepting cash donations as well.
Events like shredding old documents help to raise funds for Crime Stoppers programs, Nicol said.
“We do not receive much support, so with events such as these we’re able to raise some funds.”
Nicol said they must raise funds to pay for the call centre and website that Crime Stoppers is currently developing.
“We normally say, don’t be a victim, shred your old personal documents. And this is the best way to get rid of old documentation safely.”
Nicol said it’s important to get rid of personal documents after seven years. Any documents from 2016 or prior can be shredded.
Crime Stoppers is embarking on new programs such as community awareness, explaining the importance of the program to the city.
The Crime Stoppers shredding event happens annually. Nicol said they are provided with a location each year.
“We had about 200 people waiting for us when we started at 10 a.m.,” Nicol said. “They were here at nine.”
This event is important to keep people safe as well as to help raise funds for Thunder Bay Crime Stoppers. Organizers can never be sure how successful these events will be.
“It's like a gamble, we don’t know what we’re going to get out of it,” Nicol said.
“But I think today, we hit the jackpot.”
“The support was great. And every year the community is looking forward to this,” Nicol said.
