Every day someone has their identity stolen from them because some lowlife thief went through their trash.  You get mail all the time.  Sometimes they are credit card offers that perhaps you did not ask for or want.  So you throw them away. Along with those go your old utility bills and bank statements.  Some thief comes along and they gather this information.  This is the quickest way to give away all your important information.  If you are a victim of identity theft protection services can help.  Just throwing away unwanted documents is not enough.  You have to shred the information so no one can come walking by and pick it out of your trash.