BBB Tip of the Week

Could your recycling and trash be alerting thieves that you’re a good target? It might if you received or purchased electronics and gadgets this past holiday season. The boxes, cardboard, packaging and shipping paperwork put out for recycling could let everyone know as well.

Electronics are among the most commonly stolen items from homes and cars because they are easy to resell. The Better Business Bureau offers the following tips for recycling safely and safeguarding your electronic gifts and purchases:

Keep track of all electronics. Record make, model and serial numbers, and keep them in a secure location. You can do so easily by taking a picture of the information and your devices. Should you become the victim of theft, you will have a record for the insurance claim and police report.

Shred, cut up or destroy shipping documents and packaging, just like you would for banking and financial documents. This helps prevent would-be robbers from getting information about you and your valuables from your trash and recycling.

Put your recycling out for collection at the last minute. Keep your recycling inside your home or garage until just before collection. Many people put out their trash and recycling bins the night before collection, giving thieves time to search for those with the most potential, all while most of us are sleeping. As an alternative, consider making a special trip to a recycling center, eliminating the temptation from your curbside altogether.

Continue to take basic safety measures against thieves. Keep your doors and windows locked. Keep valuable items out of view of the public, in both your home and your car.

When recycling old electronics, be sure to completely wipe them clean of personal information. By removing the hard drive from your old computer and the SIM card from your old mobile phone, you are in control of the data. You can reuse or destroy the data and most importantly keep it out of the hands of identity thieves. For more information on disposing of electronic devices from the FTC, visit http://1.usa.gov/1efz30c and http://1.usa.gov/1rdc81h.

If you are the victim of theft, be sure to report it to your local police.

For more tips you can trust, visit the BBB online at www.bbb.org or call (509) 455-4200.

By Erin T. Dodge, BBB editor