Call it what you like a sign of the times, a direct reflection of the economy or even call it an effect of the recession; a grandfather has started robbing banks.

The unnamed man has been described as being between 45 and 60. He is said to look very “normal” and very non-threatening, well at least till he ends up robbing a bank. He is approximately six feet tall and weighs 230 pounds. His general attire is usually a short sleeved shirt with a collar, baseball cap and wire-rimmed spectacles. According to the FBI the Granddad Bandit, as he has been nicknamed, could be responsible for a spate of robberies that stretch back as far as 2008.

His method of operation involves no stunts, no sophisticated plans and no bursting in with guns ablaze. He simply stands in line and waits patiently till his turn comes. It is only when he reaches the teller that presents them with a note informing them that they should hand over money to him and that this was a robbery. Although he has sometime gestured that he was in possession of a weapon/ firearm, he has never revealed or used it. Once he receives the money he asked for he apparently leaves through the front door and walks away. No reports of a getaway vehicle have been received.

The FBI are currently offering a reward of $25,000 for information leading to the capture of the Granddad Bandit. Almost 2,000 are planned to be used nationwide, to show display a photo of the bandit captured on CCTV cameras as well as inform the public about the hotline they should call.

At present, document security is becoming an important factor to take into consideration. As the owner or manager of the establishment, you must take the necessary measure to protect the privacy and safety of your company, its employees and their information. Identity theft in the US has now forced law makers to focus efforts on thieves stealing private information.

When destroying important documents, it is important that you employ a proper method of doing so. This method of disposal should be concrete, as identity thieves are capable of going to any extent to obtain crucial information. Shredders are commonly used in companies to rid themselves of unwanted documents. You can even get one for use at home. It is important that you destroy monthly bills, bank statements, receipts, etc.

Remember all company documents with proprietary company and client information not required for ongoing business purposes should be shredded. Here’s a list of some of the documents that should be shredded, but these are just a few:

Account Records or Ledgers Items with Names, Addresses, Phone Numbers and/or Email Addresses
ATM Receipts Market Research
Bank Statements Maps or Blueprints
Bids, Estimates and Quotations Marketing Plans
Birth Certificates and Other Copies of Vital Records Minutes from Meetings
Business Plans New Product Information
Cancelled or Voided Checks Patient Records
Contracts Personnel Records
Client List and Files Payroll Records
Credit Card bills Presentations
Credit Reports Proposals and Quotes
Customer Lists Obsolete Brochures/Stationary/Files
Executive Correspondence R&D Files/Data
Expense Reports Receipts and Invoices
Financial Records Strategic Planning Reports
ID Cards and Badges Tax Records

While you want to be comfortable with any attorney that you hire, this is particularly important when it comes to matters dealing with your family. Here is a sample of some of the questions you should be prepared to ask a family law attorney when you interview them.

• What type of family law litigation experience do you have?
• Can you tell me anything about how you’ve dealt with cases similar to mine without violating client confidence?
• How many similar family law cases have you handled over the last year?
• Are family law appeals and trials your specialty or just one component of your practice?
• How long have you been working in the area of family law?
• How have you seen family law change over time and how has your practice changed to match it?
• Who else in your office will be assisting on the case and will I have the opportunity to meet them beforehand?