AURORA, Colo. -- Hundreds of people in Colorado who have helped those accused of crimes ran the risk of becoming victims of crimes themselves.

An Aurora landlord cleaning out her rental property found a file cabinet full of personal information.

"They all have birth dates, names, Social Security numbers, driver's licenses," said landlord Hermine Putman. "I think if I were a crooked lady, I could make money with it, right?"

The four-tier file cabinet was left behind by a former tenant who used to work in the bail bonding business. The personal information dated back to the '90s and belonged to people who had put up bail money to help someone else get out of jail.

"That could create an identity theft (problem) for some of these people," said Putman. "If I throw it in the trash, this can get into the wrong hands."

Putman said her tenants left abruptly, leaving behind personal belongings. She said the former tenants haven't answered her calls or come by to pick up what was left behind.

"I don't have the time, in my age, to stay out in that heat out there to sort all those papers out, what should go to a shredder. Why was it left up to me, to do this?" asked Putman. "I could have taken them and just threw them in the trash for all I care, but I do care."

7NEWS made multiple phone calls and was able to make contact with the former tenant. He told us a moving company was supposed to put the file cabinet in storage. The man told 7NEWS that he used to be in the bail bonds business in the '90s, but isn't involved any longer.

"Whether they quit that business or not, if they don't work for them or not, they have left all those files from those poor people behind," said Putman.

When asked why the files weren't in an office or already shredded, the man told 7NEWS that they need to be kept for a certain amount of time, and that when they're in storage, they're secure. The former tenant said he would get the files if Putman had told him they were still at the residence.

We asked Putman if she would give the files to the tenant, if he came for them.

"Well, that is a good question. I don't know what they're going to do with it. They may leave it somewhere else sitting again," said Putman.

Aurora police told 7NEWS that it didn't sound like a crime had been committed. The files could be turned over to police, and those who deal with identity theft investigations would look through the files and most likely end up shredding the documents.