Have you ever thought that your rubbish bin could be used as a tool to commit a crime?
“How is that even possible?”, you might ask.
Criminals are very resourceful and have a lot of time on their hands to think of new ways to ply their trade. According to Frik van Zyl, the spokesperson for West Suburbs Roodepoort Neighbourhood Watch (WSRNW), they have seen cases where residents’ bins were used for criminal activity in Roodepoort and surrounding areas. “We have found bins being used to stash stolen goods that the criminals came back at a later stage to collect.
They also push the bins against a property’s outer walls and use them to gain access to the premises,” said Van Zyl.
A Florida resident, Lorraine Brown, recently noticed that her bin, and four more belonging to her neighbours, had been stolen. This has made her wonder whether they will also be used as tools in criminal activities.
Criminals use your bin in many ways to commit a crime, including:
– As a ladder to climb over a wall
– As a hiding place to ambush you
– As transportation for stolen goods
– It attracts vagrants to your house
– If your bin stays outside, criminals will know that you are not at home.
To ensure your bin is only used for its intended purpose – which is the disposal of rubbish – you should only put your bin outside on the morning of collection day. Not the night before. Your bin should be back in your property and out of sight on the same day.
If your routine makes it difficult to do this, ask your neighbours to assist – after all, that is what neighbours are there for.
Van Zyl concluded, saying: “Residents should be vigilant and alert and be on the lookout for people hanging around their bins. Your bins should be back in your property soon after the refuse has been collected by the municipality.”
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