Someone in your household is on a diet. I can tell, because as I walk by your house on garbage day, there are empty Jenny Craig boxes in your recycling bin. If I take your garbage and search through it, I'll be able to verify that you are the one trying to lose weight: perhaps there is an invoice for a gym membership, price tags for work-out clothing, empty diet supplement bottles.

I have been a private investigator for over 20 years. Snatching garbage and digging for information is a well known trick of the trade. While we did not use the information for illegal activity, fraudsters have the same easy access to your trash.

Recycling has made it even easier for the identity thief, no more rooting through bags with dirty diapers and rotting food, everything is now separated. Don't let that be your downfall.

Your garbage is a bonanza for those who would steal your identity:

• Prescription bottles: with the information obtained on the label, a thief can call the drugstore where you fill your prescriptions and obtain information about you. Or, they can use this information for a pretext to call you, pretending to be from the drug store, wanting to update your records.

• Bank and credit card statements: Everyone should know by now that these are very dangerous in the hands of the wrong person, but other bills and invoices are also a source of information. Utility bills, membership information, receipts, and invoices, pay stubs, should never be thrown away. How many times have you received offers of credit cards? You don't want the card, so you throw the letter away. Don't. Someone could apply for a credit card in your name using these forms.

• Letters, postcards and itineraries: That Christmas card you sent to an acquaintance was returned by the post office because the person moved. You throw it away. You signed your first and last name. Now a thief has a copy of your signature and can practice signing your name. Maybe you have an older relative, unfamiliar with the internet and blogging, who still writes family newsletters. It may have personal information you don't want anyone to know. For example: Your aunt writes that she will be going into the hospital for an operation on a certain date. If the wrong person gets this information, they can plan a robbery of your aunt's home.

• Children's work: What heartless parent throws out their children's creations? Not you, but perhaps your child is writing an essay for school about their father's job. They throw the first draft in the garbage.

Now, using the above techniques, the thief knows that Mrs. Smith is on a diet, works out at Curves, is on an antidepressant which she has filled at the drug store a few blocks away, and the family is going to Disneyland in three weeks.

Mr. Smith is a salesman with a major electronic company and is often away on business trips. And they know that you have 2 children, one of whom is a very good speller and the other is a whiz at math. And, because you have thrown the note from school in the garbage, after writing the date on your calendar, the thief knows that your family will be at the school next Monday night for a play. When you come home from the play it may be more than your identity that has been stolen.

A trip to the office supply store can save you years of heartache and financial ruin. A shredder is your best weapon against identity theft. Shred anything with your name, or identifying information. Shredders come in a range of prices and styles to suit most people. Epinoins.com has reviews of 1,120 shredders starting at $15.00.

Even if you are having a neighbour pick up your mail while you are on vacation, thieves can watch for the mailman and walk to the door with a newspaper or flyers, pretending to put it in the mailbox while scooping up your mail.

If you live in a house with an outside mail box, consider getting a mail slot in your door.If you can't, because your dog eats the mail, there are locking secure postal approved mailboxes available in different styles, including roadside post boxes. If you move make sure you put in a change of address

If you live in an apartment building, just because you throw your garbage down a chute does not make it any safer. Maintenance staff, garbage collectors, all have access to your information.

Help others protect their identity. If you receive mail for someone who used to reside at your residence, do not stick it outside or on the shelf in the lobby, thieves look for these opportunities. Write ‘moved' on the envelope and put it in the mail box.

Your family rule should be that no intact paper with ANY personal information makes it out the door alive.