Garbage Thieves in Sanibel Tonight

[BamaGirl]

I was outside about 30 minutes ago and watched as a small red truck with a camper bed came by taking some of my neighbors garbage that was put out on the street. I called Community Watch and reported it and they seemed surprised to hear this. Seems like I read something about this before on TOTV. Is this a common occurrence?

[dbussone]

Could you tell what they were taking?

[jimnc]

I live in Sanibel also and am aware that people take items from trash that has been placed at the street. One thing they are looking for is metal, which can be sold for scrap.

[Happinow]

Once it's on the curb, it's trash and it's common for people to riffle through the garbage for stuff they can use. People use to do the same back where I came from. Please be sure to shred your mail so as not to make it easy for identity theft.

[BamaGirl]

I saw them take a couple bags of garbage and I am not sure if there were some other items as well. My husband thinks they could be taking the recycling items to sell.

[Bogie Shooter]

Its called "street shopping" and it's legal.
And they are not thieves!

[Sandtrap328]

Shred your personal identification mail, set the trash outdoors, and let it go.

I remember one similar thread on here and one poster was so irate saying that his trash was his property until it was put into the trash truck he contracted with his money.chilout

If someone wants my shredded trash, more power to them.

[KeepingItReal]

Its called "street shopping" and it's legal.
And they are not thieves!

Totally not so, the only one authorized to take it is those you have contracted with to remove it.

This statement only applies where trash is put in a dumpster or common area with others trash as in an apartment complex or where your trash is put in cans etc. along with others.

Don't understand at all why people lay down and roll over and say there is nothing wrong with stranger coming to your property and rifling through your trash. Once they have gone through it most likely it will end up dumped somewhere more than likely illegal like the side of a road.

[Sandtrap328]

Totally not so, the only one authorized to take it is those you have contracted with to remove it.

This statement only applies where trash is put in a common area with others trash as in an apartment complex or where your trash is put in cans etc. along with others.

Don't understand at all why people lay down and roll over and say there is nothing wrong with stranger coming to your property and rifling through your trash. Once they have gone through it most likely it will end up dumped somewhere more than likely illegal like the side of a road.

Well, I guess we found that poster on the similar thread! chilout

Trash at the end of your driveway is abandoned property. Anyone can take it. If you have different information regarding trash in Florida, please cite the foundation.

[KeepingItReal]

Well, I guess we found that poster on the similar thread!

For one thing, I put my trash at the very end of my driveway. If someone steps a foot or two onto my driveway; why would that bother me? If they went through the trash and strew it over my driveway and yard, I would care. If they were to take it away, it is off my hands.

If it were to bother someone enough, they could always wait until early morning and toss the trash onto the truck themself.

:jester: The actual taking of the trash is only a minor part of the problem........

Guess you would like your trash thrown out on the side of a road when they are finished with it since it is off your hands and of course we can expect that they will dispose of it properly.. No I am not that poster not that it even matters but I do agree with the position. It would be very ridiculous to think otherwise. We don't need bands of unknown people rambling up and down our streets casing out homes while pretending to be checking out the garbage. Since some seem to think it is Ok at what hours would it not be OK or would it be allowed all night? Maybe a couple of them will break into the home or the home next door while others are outside pretending to be in the garbage while keeping a lookout.

But then if we want to act like helpless victims, that is what we will become.

State of Florida v. Schultz, 388 So.2d 1326, 1330 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1980) (Anstead, J., dissenting)

In my view, a homeowner, upon placing items in a closed garbage container and placing the container in a position on his property where the container can be conveniently removed by authorized trash collectors, is entitled to reasonably expect that the container and the trash therein will be removed from his property only by those authorized to do so, and that such trash will be disposed of in the manner provided by ordinance or private contract. By sealing the containers in a secure manner and placing the containers on his own property, the owner has done everything within his own means to insure the privacy of the contents thereof, short of delivering the containers to a central disposal site himself.
State of Florida v. Schultz, 388 So.2d 1326, 1330 (Fla.Dist.Ct.App. 1980) (Anstead, J., dissenting)

[jblum315]

I don't know what the expectation is here but in Brooklyn, NY, people furnish their entire apartments with discarded furniture, appliances, etc.
The quoted "legalese" is one judge's dissenting opinion, not an ordinance.

[dave from deland]

Could be undercover cops looking for evidence of a crime(s).

[Deseylou]

If I leave sofa at the end of my driveway,I feel it's fair game
If my trash is sealed, then it's mine until the trash men pick it up
Just my feelings

[redwitch]

The US Supreme Court has ruled there is no expectation of privacy for garbage left at the curb, whether in a plastic bag or in a garbage can due to the fact that said trash can be opened by animals, scavengers and the like. Greenwood v. State of California Therefore, whether we like it or not, people can and do pick up trash in the hopes of finding recycling items and, sadly, documents to be used for identity theft.

If you use a standard shredder, the best thing you can do is put half of a document out for recycling one week and save the second half for the following. Best is to get a diamond cut shredder.

[blueash]

The US Supreme Court has ruled that you have no expectation of privacy for your trash, whether sealed in an opaque bag or exposed. As mentioned the long citation above was from the loosing side of a case in Florida

California v. Greenwood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_v._Greenwood)

Edit Sorry Redwitch I was composing while you were posting, see we found the same court decision, end edit

To conflate someone trying to make a few bucks trash diving with suspecting them of casing your house or neighborhood for home invasions... And to suggest that those of us who don't get angry at those whose lives are at a point where this activity is used to get by " would like your trash thrown out on the side of a road when they are finished with it " .. really?

[NVtoFl]

I spoke with a Sumter County Sheriff regarding this issue last summer, We put a computer desk out on the curb and 30 minutes later it was gone. I contacted the Sheriff and he said when it's on the curb along with the other trash it's considered trash.

I don't mind, if i can help someone who might be in need, they can have what I don't need.

[rdhdleo]

I spoke with a Sumter County Sheriff regarding this issue last summer, We put a computer desk out on the curb and 30 minutes later it was gone. I contacted the Sheriff and he said when it's on the curb along with the other trash it's considered trash.

I don't mind, if i can help someone who might be in need, they can have what I don't need.

Exactly! We just had a neighborhood garage sale. Many items that were left and good to donate everyone did that other items went to trash. We have one truck that comes every weekend looking for "stuff people don't use or can't use and have thrown out. More power to people that are trying to make ends meet making use of our discarded items. We put stuff our last night and actually had a young man come to our door and ask if he could take something (we put out an old but still working shop vac. We said of course! I don't care about stuff I put out at the curb, it's fair game and if it helps someone else that's great! Paper stuff is shredded in a cross cut shredder.

[George Bieniaszek]

I shred all my personal stuff. If people want to take my garbage after I put it out for removal, have at it guys -- As long as you take it and not rip it apart and make a mess in my driveway for the wind to distribute it to all my neighbors.

[Topspinmo]

Old saying! One Man's Trash is another Man's Treasure!. IMO I don't like people riffling through Plastic bags. But I was born in the night, just not last night" so I try to destroy any personnel information. I was Poor boy, but wasn't that poor and understand some may have to resort to that.

[Sandtrap328]

I spoke with a Sumter County Sheriff regarding this issue last summer, We put a computer desk out on the curb and 30 minutes later it was gone. I contacted the Sheriff and he said when it's on the curb along with the other trash it's considered trash.

I don't mind, if i can help someone who might be in need, they can have what I don't need.

You were throwing it out, it got picked up by someone who wanted it, it is off your hands, and you call the Sheriff?

You said in your post you didn't mind. Why call the Sheriff?

[Barefoot]

The US Supreme Court has ruled that you have no expectation of privacy for your trash, whether sealed in an opaque bag or exposed. As mentioned the long citation above was from the loosing side of a case in Florida

California v. Greenwood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_v._Greenwood)

To conflate someone trying to make a few bucks trash diving with suspecting them of casing your house or neighborhood for home invasions... And to suggest that those of us who don't get angry at those whose lives are at a point where this activity is used to get by " would like your trash thrown out on the side of a road when they are finished with it " .. really?

Seriously, there are people worried about having their garbage stolen?
Everyone realizes that personal/financial information needs to be shredded.
If you leave furniture on the curb for pick-up, just be grateful that it can be of use to somewhat who needs it.
Think about it: If someone needs money that badly to rifle through your garbage or recycling, just feel blessed that you don't need to.

[kittygilchrist]

Totally not so, the only one authorized to take it is those you have contracted with to remove it.

This statement only applies where trash is put in a dumpster or common area with others trash as in an apartment complex or where your trash is put in cans etc. along with others.

Don't understand at all why people lay down and roll over and say there is nothing wrong with stranger coming to your property and rifling through your trash. Once they have gone through it most likely it will end up dumped somewhere more than likely illegal like the side of a road.

:agree:
I would go out and challenge.

[kittygilchrist]

The US Supreme Court has ruled that you have no expectation of privacy for your trash, whether sealed in an opaque bag or exposed. As mentioned the long citation above was from the loosing side of a case in Florida

California v. Greenwood - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_v._Greenwood)

Edit Sorry Redwitch I was composing while you were posting, see we found the same court decision, end edit

To conflate someone trying to make a few bucks trash diving with suspecting them of casing your house or neighborhood for home invasions... And to suggest that those of us who don't get angry at those whose lives are at a point where this activity is used to get by " would like your trash thrown out on the side of a road when they are finished with it " .. really?


This ruling was garbage left "on the street" and specifically excluded garbage left on the curtilage of a home. Nobody in the villages leaves their garbage on the street, we leave it on the curtilage of our homes, which means anyone coming there without a specific contracted reason is trespassing.

[rdhdleo]

Seriously, there are people worried about having their garbage stolen?
Everyone realizes that personal/financial information needs to be shredded.
If you leave furniture on the curb for pick-up, just be grateful that it can be of use to somewhat who needs it.
Think about it: If someone needs money that badly to rifle through your garbage or recycling, just feel blessed that you don't need to.

Absolutely agree! :BigApplause: I was very glad items were going to someone that could use it rather than a landfill. There are much more important things to be concerned about ,,,,,,

[kittygilchrist]

Absolutely agree! :BigApplause: I was very glad items were going to someone that could use it rather than a landfill. There are much more important things to be concerned about ,,,,,,

It would be such an outpouring of love to have swarms of trash people coming every trash day to every neighborhood in the wee hours of trash day. We can put cookies and milk on little trays like for Santa Claus, or just invite them in for breakfast.

We would put a special color light in the lamppost, maybe blue, to signal trash people that We love them, so they would come knock on the door and We could give them food and money and have stay overnight if they were homeless...

PM if you want to help start a homeless trash people support group.
HTPSG!

[HHMAN]

I've always understood that stuff put out for pickup is fair game for scroungers. I'm glad the sheriff supported that. I don't believe anyone is looking for personal info - just "good" stuff discarded. Oh, all the talk about coming on your property to do this is probably not correct. I believe that most, if not all, of our property lines are about 8-10 feet back from the curb.

[kittygilchrist]

I've always understood that stuff put out for pickup is fair game for scroungers. I'm glad the sheriff supported that. I don't believe anyone is looking for personal info - just "good" stuff discarded. Oh, all the talk about coming on your property to do this is probably not correct. I believe that most, if not all, of our property lines are about 8-10 feet back from the curb.

You would be wrong for purposes of determining trespass. There is an easement for specific purposes. Otherwise, anyone there without specific contractual service agreement is trespassing.
Suppose homeless Uncle Joe wants to stay in a tent on your 10' to be near his estranged relative, who is your neighbor.

[Bogie Shooter]

This ruling was garbage left "on the street" and specifically excluded garbage left on the curtilage of a home. Nobody in the villages leaves their garbage on the street, we leave it on the curtilage of our homes, which means anyone coming there without a specific contracted reason is trespassing.

Nobody? This is not true. I have seen alot of trash bags sitting in the street, expecially those with paved driveways.

[Bogie Shooter]

It would be such an outpouring of love to have swarms of trash people coming every trash day to every neighborhood in the wee hours of trash day. We can put cookies and milk on little trays like for Santa Claus, or just invite them in for breakfast.

We would put a special color light in the lamppost, maybe blue, to signal trash people that We love them, so they would come knock on the door and We could give them food and money and have stay overnight if they were homeless...

PM if you want to help start a homeless trash people support group.
HTPSG!

It is happening now.......without cookies,milk or colored lights on lampposts,food or overnight accomodations.
Come on.....................

[kittygilchrist]

Nobody? This is not true. I have seen alot of trash bags sitting in the street, expecially those with paved driveways.

Hmmm, then that garbage is public property, but most of us leave it on our own driveway and not out on the street. Thanks for the correction.

[Bogie Shooter]

Hmmm, then that garbage is public property, but most of us leave it on our own driveway and not out on the street. Thanks for the correction.

Can you really say "most of us"?

[kittygilchrist]

Can you really say "most of us"?

Yes, i drive a car. Do most homes you drive by put trash in the street?
Where is that done by most people?

[tomwed]

I would never steal anyone’s garbage, but I do like riding around just garbage watching.

[Barefoot]

Even in Canada, if you put old furniture out on the curb, it will probably be gone in a couple of hours.
I though it was a universally accepted custom for those who are in need to take what others are discarding.
I don't get why people are so protective about recycling or garbage.

[Jaggy]

I would never steal anyone�s garbage, but I do like riding around just garbage watching.

Thanks for confirming I am not crazy.. I love to take a cart ride on garbage nite.. Oh.. I can't believe I admitted that...

[janmcn]

Why not put the garbage out just before the truck comes along? My guys come at 8:00am just like clockwork, rain or shine, so I put garbage out at 7:45am.

[Regor]

I put stuff out in plain sight sometimes just so some one else can use it if they want it.

[Bogie Shooter]

Even in Canada, if you put old furniture out on the curb, it will probably be gone in a couple of hours.
I though it was a universally accepted custom for those who are in need to take what others are discarding.
I don't get why people are so protective about recycling or garbage.

So, there you go. Looks like it is done in most of North America!

[kittygilchrist]

Dumpster Diving: The Advanced Course: How to Turn Other People's Trash Into ... - John Hoffman - Google Books (http://books.google.com/books?id=BtofPQAACAAJ&dq=isbn:158160369X&hl=en&sa=X&ei=0MxOVL28CviHsQTrlILYDQ&ved=0CB8Q6wEwAA)

[HHMAN]

You would be wrong for purposes of determining trespass. There is an easement for specific purposes. Otherwise, anyone there without specific contractual service agreement is trespassing.
Suppose homeless Uncle Joe wants to stay in a tent on your 10' to be near his estranged relative, who is your neighbor.

Maybe I don't understand property lines but I had a survey done and the man put stakes at my corners and they were back from the curbs by 8-10 feet. Also on my plat the property lines are marked the same way. Are you saying I own to the curb?

[tomwed]

Thanks for confirming I am not crazy.. I love to take a cart ride on garbage nite.. Oh.. I can't believe I admitted that...
Just because you do what I do is not a good argument for sanity. I'd be lying if I said I never stopped back home to pick something up. Down here, I just pass it up and have picker's remorse later.

[kittygilchrist]

Maybe I don't understand property lines but I had a survey done and the man put stakes at my corners and they were back from the curbs by 8-10 feet. Also on my plat the property lines are marked the same way. Are you saying I own to the curb?

There is a county right of way on the front. You have the sole right to use the property that is the curtilage, or normal boundary of your lot, tho it is technically county owned.
Just as you may alter the surface of your driveway and maintain the lawn, you may also control who or what is on the property to the curb. Good luck with that.

My answer comes from research through calls to sumter county and emails with vccd.

[kittygilchrist]

So, there you go. Looks like it is done in most of North America!

Bogie, i think you misunderstood me. Yes people put trash out and other people pick it up everywhere. But people here in The Villages put it in their driveway, not in the street as was in the legal case cited earlier in the thread.
I don't care who takes what from garbage as neighbors, but do object if people habitually ride around our neighborhoods sneaking around snooping in the trash at night.

[Bogie Shooter]

:boom:

[duffysmom]

Anyone remember the lady who was standing on her driveway (Villa community) with her luggage beside her waiting for Village Transportation when she remembered she forgot something and ran inside. When she returned her luggage was gone. We had a long discussion here on TOTV about the topic.

One day we were cleaning out the garage and put some things on the lawn. Later after lunch
we noticed an item was missing. Yes, we were inside for a short time and the garage door was open. We do live on a corner lot off a busy street and I'm vigilant about who is prowling around. Still I feel safe but take the necessary precautions.

[kittygilchrist]

Thanks DMom! Hard not to laugh...sounds like a Comedy flick.

I think the OP saw aluminum recycler nonlegit nightcrawlers skimming the cream away from our waste mgt folks.
IMO, they are thieves stealing from a legitimate business.
And in the big picture, we pay for the service, and I support waste mgts right to conduct business
Without thieves horning in on profit with no capital investment or tax responsibility.

Those who that is a legitimate way to earn money, please explain why.

[DonH57]

About 3 or 4 weekends ago I was out at garage sales in a neighborhood with multi participants and I listened to this neighbor of someone describing how he heard voices in his garage an hour earlier and found someone rummaging through his stuff and one person ask why nothing was labelled. He had left his garage screens open. I thought it was pretty funny anyway.

[rdhdleo]

It would be such an outpouring of love to have swarms of trash people coming every trash day to every neighborhood in the wee hours of trash day. We can put cookies and milk on little trays like for Santa Claus, or just invite them in for breakfast.

We would put a special color light in the lamppost, maybe blue, to signal trash people that We love them, so they would come knock on the door and We could give them food and money and have stay overnight if they were homeless...

PM if you want to help start a homeless trash people support group.
HTPSG!

Ummm I have yet to see "homeless" people here or for that matter coming in swarms. The person that approached us and politely asked if they could take it were far from homeless looking and were driving a very nice truck! If they could make use of it even if they fix stuff to sell then more power to them.... Good idea on the cookies and milk ;) thanks, I'm all for feeding the hungry :) smh....

[Bubble Gum]

Thanks DMom! Hard not to laugh...sounds like a Comedy flick.

I think the OP saw aluminum recycler nonlegit nightcrawlers skimming the cream away from our waste mgt folks.
IMO, they are thieves stealing from a legitimate business.
And in the big picture, we pay for the service, and I support waste mgts right to conduct business
Without thieves horning in on profit with no capital investment or tax responsibility.

Those who that is a legitimate way to earn money, please explain why.

Unfortunately, we do not have Waste Management as our trash and recycle picker-upper. Waste Mgmt. doesn't require customers to put their trash and recycle items in certain color non-provided plastic bags on a certain side of the driveway, etc., and they provides containers.

Like many things, Mr. Morse has a hand in our trash. :1rotfl:
I don't know to whom he sells the stuff.

There are many business people who run a business that had/have no capital investment, but do pay taxes.

If these "nightcrawlers" are specifically targeting aluminum, then I think the only way to put a stop to them would be for the police to do that. Otherwise, if the items are strictly miscellaneous things, then let them "go for it." Why should anyone really care?

[Sandtrap328]

[QUOTE=duffysmom;959652]Anyone remember the lady who was standing on her driveway (Villa community) with her luggage beside her waiting for Village Transportation when she remembered she forgot something and ran inside. When she returned her luggage was gone. We had a long discussion here on TOTV about the topic".

Yes, I remember that from a few years ago. If I remember, she was in the house for about a half hour before coming back outside and finding her luggage gone. It was on a trash pickup day and no one was sure if it was pickers or the trash pickup who took it.

A couple of months ago, I put an old television out at the end of the driveway after calling for a pickup. This was at 3 pm. At 4:30, someone had taken it away. Fine with me!