Help prevent identity theft by destroying your personal documents securely and confidentially—and for free—on March 9 in Central Square. Image via Google Images.

The Cambridge Consumers’ Council, in cooperation with the United States Postal Service, is ringing in National Consumer Protection Week by offering free, confidential document shredding services outside the Central Square Post Office on Saturday, March 9th. From 10am-2pm, the City will allow ten-minute drop off parking on portions of Mass. Ave., Inman St., and Pleasant St. so neighbors can securely dispose of sensitive paper documents such as bank statements, bills, and old tax returns.

This event will take place rain or shine, and there are no restrictions on the size or amount of documents you may bring. Shredding your old credit card statements is an excellent way to prevent identity theft, but if there’s an old high school yearbook that brings back memories of an unfortunate haircut, you can have those pages shredded too. All kidding aside, I encourage Cambridge and Somerville residents to take advantage of this free service.