Regional Vic shreds to protect identity

Regional Victoria is getting ready to shred.

A shredding truck is rolling into Ballarat on May 27 and then Bendigo on May 28, so residents can destroy their old bills, statements and personal documents to protect against identity theft.

"Some thieves go to extreme lengths to steal identities, including rifling through bins to find confidential information," Consumer Affairs Minister Jane Garrett said in a statement on Friday.

Australians lost $1.8 million to identity theft in 2015 according to the ACCC, with more than $240,000 reported missing so far this year.