Cross cut paper shredders destroy documents so that sensitive information does not end up in the wrong hands. Bank account statements, bills, medical records, letters, and other pieces of mail containing personal information can be used to commit fraudulent activities like identity theft, so it is important to properly dispose of such items. A heavy-duty shredder starts working as soon as pieces of paper are fed into it, and cuts them up into thin slices. A cross-cut shredder makes confetti out of unwanted documents, and can also shred expired credit cards, staples, and paper clips. Lighter models cannot handle plastic or heavy loads, and were built to eliminate the small volumes of paperwork in small offices and of more personal uses.