MONDEOR – Once a week like clockwork communities in the South take out their refuse bins for collection by Pikitup, but at times they are more likely to find informal recyclers attending to the bins.
With all the unknown individuals making their rounds in the southern suburbs on collection days, it has become difficult to distinguish who the informal recyclers are from the criminals who monitor residents’ activity, waiting for an opportunity to break in and rob their homes.
Mondeor SAPS informed the CHRONICLE of an increase in housebreaking incidents on collection days, as they experience that more cases are reported on days when Pikitup collection trucks are expected.
It has not been claimed that informal recyclers are the perpetrators of these crimes. The community has been advised to be more vigilant about the unknown individuals they see on their streets, as most areas are known to become busy on collection days.
Police officers advise that dustbins should not be kept outside for too long, as this confirms to the criminals that there may be no one at home. When collecting dustbins, residents should make sure that there is no one watching or following them.
If possible, residents should ask a neighbour to keep dustbins for them temporarily, should there be no one home who can bring the bin in after collection.
