HERMITAGE, Pa. - Spring cleaning hit the Hermitage area Monday with a shredding event being held in the city.

The event is a reminder to clear out the old and unwanted papers to avoid identity theft.

Many documents can be shredded after a few years, but items like birth certificates and social security cards should be kept.

"Tax returns that are within seven years and anything that you might need to reference back to in the near future, you should keep. But statements from 1995, you really don't need to hold onto those in your house anymore," said JFS wealth advisor Sean Gibbon.

Items including taxes, receipts, bills, and other sensitive or confidential records should be disposed of.