Building Owner Says Dumpster Documents Being Destroyed

On Tuesday the owner of a Boca Raton industrial building says he didn't know sensitive personal information was being tossed into the trash.  He also tells CBS 12 the documents are now being properly disposed of and destroyed.

 Monday night when CBS 12 crews visited the building on Northwest 1st Avenue, Boca Raton, they encountered an identity thief's dream--  dumpsters full of files and paperwork with names, addresses, even drivers licenses and social security numbers, all out in the open for the taking.

 Building owner Charles Wheeler explains he was cleaning out the moving company operation he used to own.  Wheeler says he didn't think any sensitive documents were still inside.

 "I didn't realize until I heard from you guys that there was something sensitive in there," says Wheeler.  "And it should have never been thrown out."

 CBS 12 found documents apparently containing information on employees or job applicants, and some customers.  By early Tuesday morning the documents were gone from the dumpsters.  Given that the documents are are all being destroyed, Wheeler says, "In my heart, I don't think it's going to be a problem."

 "I'm taken aback," said Geraldine Spieler, one of the people whose information CBS 12 found in the trash.  "I'm really almost shaking, the fact that records could be around for all these years."

 Spieler said she used the moving company 13 years ago.  She adds she's never been a victim of identity theft.  "It's very frightening to think of, that it was available, and that it could have happened," says Spieler.

 Building owner Wheeler says from now on, he will shred all unneeded documents.