man in a van going through our bin

[mousymouse]

bins are collected on thursdays. nearly every wednesday before collection I see a man with a batty old van going through the communal bin store. hes tearing open bin bags and leaving the doors wide open.
its a large private development with about 40 households per bin store.
I reported it to the company who manages the grounds but they only put up signs in the hallways to remember to keep the doors to the bin stores closed and to make sure to shred confidential information.
anything else I can do?

You could maybe contact your council for advice?

Call the police and say you think identity theft from 40 households is underway, maybe? If you do it every time he turns up they'll eventually attend just to stop you I would think. Then the bloke will go somewhere where he isn't being reported.

I would go out and ask what he is doing! That's just me tho, am ex police so wouldn't think twice!!

put some mouse traps in your bin.

From what i know its not actually illegal if the bins are not locked so froma legal standpoint not much you can do. The fact he is littering the place is different.

I think it is still theft - technically someone still owns that rubbish i.e the householder by putting it into the bin has passed ownership onto the council .

So the property still belongs ' to another ' therefore the guy has no right to remove it without the owners permission.

People may argue that it has been abandoned , however by placing it in an appropraite bin the owner has not abandond it just passed ownership onto the council or whoever removes the rubbish.

What exactly are you worried about?

I am worried about the mess attracting foxes and crows and of course identity theft (shred personal stuff, though).

and just feeling uncomfortable having someone in our bin.

Is he a tramp who is living in your bin cupboards?

He's probably a freegan. They go through bins looking for chucked out out of date food which is still eatable. He could also be trying to find stuff to sell if he has a van.

Is your property one occupied by wealthy people who are likely to not worry about chucking out the odd steak on day past due?

Lots of people used to do this at supermarkets but the supermarkets started locking bins and/or pouring bleach over the thrown away food

Ask your management company to fit close locks on the doors to the bins (so when the doors swing closed they lock) if it really bothers you.