What should I do with my voided US passport?

Question

I was overseas and a pickpocket stole my passport . I successfully obtained a new temporary 1-year replacement passport at the consulate in the city I was visiting. Then I applied for and obtained the full 10-year validity passport at the main US embassy, and the temporary one was returned back to me voided.

I am now back home in the US and have both the new and voided passports in my possession. Should I just throw the voided one in the garbage now - cut into small pieces of course - since I am all set with the new one?

I'm just wondering if there are any legal reasons to keep it. I will be traveling to a different country in about a month or so (not the country I was in before), but again, already have a fully valid passport.

Answer 1

well, if you simply toss it in the passport, someone could try to alter it. that's not particularly easy to do and since it's been cancelled and presumably has two holes punched through it you should be ok.

Answer 2

I'd shred it.