to call 101 over people going through my bins?

[JeanGenie23]

It's a bit of a weird situation. It's been going on for a while I think but last Monday the people who live below me in the basement flat were having a clear out and as a result there were loads of extra bin bags in the drive. I left about 9.30am to take my dc to the park and by the time I had got back at 11.30am ish the bin bags had been slashed and rubbish was all over the drive, completely covered the whole area right up to the front door, I was raging mad. It looked like someone had been looking for something but I dismissed that thought, who goes looking through other people's bins? I put it down to a fox perhaps attracted to smell of nappies. I cleared it up whilst cussing a lot under my breath, but it had to be tidied otherwise bin men wouldn't take rubbish.


Fast forward to yesterday, my DD was crabby and I was trying to rock her to sleep whilst having a nosey out the window. I see two women with pushchairs and in the pushchairs are those large plastic laundry bags, and they are going through our neighbours bins and throwing some bits on the floor but other bits into their bags. I can see them coming up to our house so I go down and ask them not too. Their English is broken and they look dirty and their hair is matted. I said please leave I do not want you coming in our bins. Reluctantly they go, but I watch them down the street and they are joined by two men, similar dirty appearance and they go through everyone's bins, some more thoroughly than others.

This morning my food shop came about 7am and there were the two women but they have obviously been there are while because there was a mammoth mess, dirty nappies on the floor, food bits, a weeks worth of a families rubbish basically. I asked them to leave or I would call police so off they went.

Then again about 11am, these women and two men appear at the bins, this time wearing high visibility jackets claiming to be from the council. They aren't, it's obvious. I told them to go but the men grabbed two bin bags and went.

The bin bags are full of rubbish, occasionally there are clothes in, generally it's food, but because downstairs are having a clear out there is also a mix of things like usb cables, crockery and blankets.

I called 101 and I don't know if that was out of line. They are making so much mess and I am not prepared to keep doing this. It's a nuisance. Not crime of the century, and I feel bad because they must be in dire straits but they can't keep doing this can they? Especially not now they are pretending to work for council!

The police will be round within 60mins but I'm feel like I am just wasting their time to be honest. What do you all think?

[legotits]

Dunno about this really.

On one hand I'd be glad my rubbish was reused but I would be furious about the mess and picking through.

I'd be angry enough to continue with the report though.
If they have the brass neck to wear a disguise then it's a small step to bogus caller.

[SohowdoIdothis]

It's illegal to go through some rubbish, identify theft is a real problem, phone 101 and alert them, get a reference number so when you spot them again it's easier for the police to be fully informed.

[carefreeeee]

Not wrong to phone police. Up to them what they do about it. It think it might be illegal to go through other peoples rubbish. I remember hearing about someone being prosecuted by Tesco for stealing out of date food from their bins.

It sounds antisocial and unhygienic and whilst I sometimes see tramps going through bins, and think 'well if they are that desperate then they had better be left alone' they don't normally slash open bags and leave a big mess or pretend to be from the council.

[Buzzardbird]

I don't really think you are wasting anyone's time because if some of your neighbours are not in the position of being able to clean up the mess after them then you are going to have a rat problem aren't you?

If they are desperate enough to steal food that has been next to nappies and obviously workmen's jackets then they need some help sorting out.

[Birdsgottafly]

It's coming up to summer, this is going to be a health hazard, so it should be dealt with.

I agree that those people need help, it sounds as though they may be homeless etc, so they should be on someone's radar.

I had my recycle bin stolen a few times (so did neighbors) and someone attempted identity theft, this was before I ripped off the bit with my name on.

[Buzzardbird]

Always a good idea to shred envelopes and letters (and give them to me for pet's bedding) rather than chuck straight into recycle bin.

[MinniedeMinx]

Its fly tipping, its disgusting, no one should have to clean up used nappies from the pavement.
We do get people rummaging round here but they have the smarts to leave it as they found it, so no one minds.

Many of use leave recyclables in separate bags with a note so people can take it without having to go through the bins

[JeanGenie23]

They never touch the recycling bags just the black bin bags.

I think that's why I feel so terrible, having seen and spoken to these people they are in need of help. The stuff we throw away is of no worth or value, and we always tear up important documents before throwing them away, so that isn't a concern. It's the annoyance of having to clean up after them!

[JeanGenie23]

I think if our rubbish was left on the pavement I wouldn't mind half as much, but it isn't, it's behind a wall on our drive.

At least you all seem to agree. I thought I was being OTT for a moment!

[PointlessUsername]

We have had this around my way.

They collect clothes as locally there is a shop that you get paid by the bag for second hand clothes. Maybe what they are doing too?

[thecatfromjapan]

Identity theft could be done this way - not saying that's what they were doing but it's something to bear in mind.

I think it's not OK, not least because of the mess. Calling 101 and speaking to police definitely a good idea.

[JeanGenie23]

Maybe pointless- but they have left many clothes behind. Today they took this ugly tea light holder that I threw out , it was copper coloured and heavy, I wonder if they were looking for stuff to sell. But they also took headphones that are broken

[PrimalLass]

They're looking for copper then.

[HidingUnderARock]

YNBU at all. If they had bothered not to be a problem you would not even know. idc how needy they are, they must know they are leaving a mess and being a problem.

Also yes, they could get and sell your info or your neighbour's info and then you will stop feeling sorry for them fast.

[legotits]

Scrap collecting.

[GooseberryRoolz]

Maybe one for the PCSO?

[GooseberryRoolz]

I've witnessed similar twice recently but with the Humana-type clothes banks that happen to be immediately next to my favourite pub beer garden. Not a health risk in that case, but the ransacking and strewing of stuff by a pair of women sounds the same.

[JeanGenie23]

In one sense I want to help them, and I think they must just be searching for anything, there is no one item they seem to Collect more than the other.

The operator at 101 said it is theft and someone will be round but it's been more than an hour.

I don't quite know what I expect them to do about it, it's not like people's bins can be watched and it's very rare I see a PCSO around.

I will keep you informed!

[scarednoob]

I saw a thread like this on reddit a while ago now - what I remember was someone techie saying that you can recover people's emails from old cabling! I never knew that before. Some other stuff on trespass and needing the owner's consent here too. Not that reddit is a brilliant source, but some of the stuff re identity theft is worth a read.

m.reddit.com/r/london/comments/22wwgh/men_going_through_my_bins_should_i_be_concerned/

[GooseberryRoolz]

It's business to them Jean.

[GooseberryRoolz]

(Meaning they probably don't feel that they need 'help'.)

[JeanGenie23]

Wow scared- I just had a quick scan of that it's quite alarming isn't it really?! I thought we were careful as could be with throwing out paperwork. We don't get paper bank statements anymore but bills are often torn in two or three and thrown in to the bin. I don't like the idea of people being able to get into my email. Once you have access to email you can pretty much get anything!

[SonjasSister]

Amazed they are doing this so blatantly, I would want them stopped, too, and you have already asked them yourself.

Looking for copper does sound a possibility. The mess is an issue, whether its stealing or not - (which it seems it is) - public nuisance or something perhaps.

Bit late for this now but electrical items can usually be recycled for the copper - if you and your neighbours always did this, the rewards for rubbish picking might be less.

[Justaboy]

FWIW the scrap price of Copper and most metal has plummeted. Have you thought of asking the refuse department of your local council for advice? I bet they'll know far more about this than what old bill does!