Area residents can shred unwanted documents at an Avondale-sponsored free identity theft prevention event April 28.

The even will be from 4-6 p.m. at Costco, 10000 W. McDowell Road.

The shredding service will be in the Costco parking lot at the intersection of 99th Avenue and McDowell. Up to two banker-sized boxes of personal documents will be accepted from each individual household.

The Avondale Police Department is partnering with Nationwide Insurance for the occasion. Encouraging consumer awareness, the department said that it is no longer safe to discard obsolete papers, even if documents are destined for recycling, according to a press release. Outdated bills, medical records, bank statements or tax documents are all vulnerable to identity theft.

“(Shredding) old and unwanted documents has become a vital part of protecting yourself from data and identity theft,” the city of Avondale said in the release.

All documents will be shredded on site.