Sensitive documents found in CVS store dumpster

(3/19/07 - KTRK/LIBERTY, TX) (KTRK) -- Private, personal documents, with everything from social security numbers to credit card numbers, were found discarded in a Liberty dumpster, putting many people at risk for identity theft.

The records were found behind a popular drug store which may be responsible for putting them there.

"Speaking as a former, convicted identity thief, this is the motherload," says a man who does not want to be identified.

The self proclaimed ID thief found hundreds of sensitive documents with names, addresses and credit card numbers lying next to a dumpster. At one time, this find would have been like winning the criminal lottery for this man.

"It was very tempting," he said. "You know how usually an alcoholic will call a sponsor? I had to call the news."

The dumpster was behind what used to be a CVS pharmacy. Just last week the store closed its doors and relocated to another part of town. We were shocked to see what was left behind as trash - hundreds of receipts with customer credit card numbers and expiration dates. We also found files belonging to former employees like Misty Sparks. She wasn't hard to find since we had all of her information.

"I figured it would have been shredded by now," Sparks said. "Not just lying out on the road for somebody to pick up."

We also called Judy Johnson after finding her name in the stacks of paperwork.

"I don't like it at all," Johnson said. "I mean I try to protect this from happening you know. I don't like my personal information being available to anybody that walks by and gets it out of the dumpster."

Employees at the newly reopened CVS pharmacy directed us to call corporate headquarters, but just a short time later, we came across the store's manager at the dumpster. The sensitive trash had been picked up and loaded into his car.

"I've cleaned it all up," he said. "Anything that was in there was a mistake, I mean it wasn't just something…this is not a common practice."

It's not clear whether or not any personal information was stolen from the dumpster. The two women we talked to earlier say they are already willing to take legal action.

There are things you can do to avoid becoming a victim of identity theft. Monitor your bank and credit card accounts by getting a credit report at least once a year. Also, be sure to shred all personal information like credit card statements before throwing them away.
(Copyright © 2007, KTRK-TV)

Get more News »

• Email
• Print
• Report a typo
•