Somebody is stealing my household waste

[mermaidtales]

I realised 2 days ago that my household waste bin is empty (it's been a week since it was emptied and there were at least 3 bags in there)

I've been working really long hours and I'd left it in the back lane.
I've now brought it into my garden and just checked and it's empty again!

I thought it had happened a fortnight ago but convinced myself I was imagining it.

Why would somebody steal my waste? Should I be worried about identity fraud?

[dementedpixie]

Do you put identifying information in your general waste bin?

[HollowTalk]

I'd get a camera focused on it - put it pretty high up so it can't be moved. I've no idea why someone would want bin bags, though!

[HollowTalk]

Are you well known or do you have a dodgy partner?

[RickiTarr]

It is something that private security might do. To dig up stuff to discredit you. Sometimes for legal situations. The shittier tabloids commission similar work sometimes. Obviously doesn’t usually happen to Ms Bloggs.

Are you involved in any kind of relationship split, legal action or work dispute?

[tiredmum2468]

My old neighbours had this and turns out that they were under surveillance and ended up arrested 🤦🏻‍♀️
Currently at her majesty's pleasure
People trafficking

[winterchills]

That's creepy 😩

[Crosstrainer]

Have they changed the bin collection day?

[MySocalledLoaf]

Different schedule to cover the Easter bank holidays?

[mermaidtales]

We're not famous or dodgy (I hope!)

No change to schedule. The bags are being taken out of the bin.

[tiredmum2468]

@mermaidtales

I would report this to the police their undercover team might be stealing your rubbish by mistake instead of someone they are interested in

Either way it's odd

[memberofthewedding]

Why not just keep the bags in a corner of your garden until bin day and put them out just before the waggon comes?

Having said that look on Amazon where you will find for about £60-£70 a choice of discreet little outdoor cameras of the kind you can attach to a tree. They will run on one charge for 1-2 weeks depending and the software is pretty easy to set up. That should solve your mystery rubbish snatcher.

I have cameras of that kind set up on my back windows and they caught one of my neighbours dumping black bin bags on my lawn. I printed out the thumbnails on a piece of paper with a warning that this was a criminal offence and giving him 24 hours to clean them up. He was back at 06.15 next day to remove them.

He now knows I still have the pictures and could pass them to the police, put them on the internet or distribute them throughout the neighbourhood.