It’s never fun to learn the importance of shredding sensitive documents the hard way.

Not properly disposing of personal information can give identity thieves the keys to stealing your life.

To give community members the resources they need to shred documents and protect themselves against fraud and identity theft, Cintas and Bronco Federal Credit Union are partnering to bring a community shredding event to Franklin and Suffolk this month.

“People who are out there looking to steal your identity fish through trashcans and dumpsters and hang around mailboxes,” said Melissa Boyce, marketing and business development for Bronco. “You want to make sure to properly dispose of everything from bank receipts to previous credit card statements.”

On Friday, Cintas will be providing shredding services at 135 Stewart Dr. in Franklin from 1-3 p.m. and on Sept. 24 at 3075 Godwin Blvd. in Suffolk from 10 a.m. to noon.

All services are free, and all documents that are shredded are recycled by Cintas.

A credit card statement might seem innocent enough, but in the hands of thief it can cost you thousands of dollars.

Boyce said an 8-year-old boy once stole her identity by intercepting and opening credit card statements for an unused card of hers. Her ordeal makes Boyce especially sensitive to the need to protect one’s identity by destroying old and unused financial documents.

Other documents to bring can include invoices, customer lists, employment applications, cancelled checks, audit reports, medical records and insurance records.

Other media that can be shredded include X-rays, CDs, prescription orders, back-up discs, floppy disks, audiotapes and microfilm.

Boyce cautions people to ensure they won’t need their documents for tax purposes before bringing them to shred.

The Internal Revenue Service recommends saving all tax returns, canceled checks and receipts, alimony records, charitable contribution statements, mortgage interest, retirement plan contributions and records for tax deductions for three years.