Trash Thief!!
 

My wife and I returned home late this evening, just before dark. Since it is trash pick-up night, I took most of our trash out to the curb. Later, I had some more to take out. That's when I noticed that one of the bags had been taken. Only one and I have no idea who took it or where it went. As far as I know, there is nothing in there that has any account numbers or any persional information. I always try to shred anything that would be of any use to anyone and there was no shredding in the trash tonight.

We saw it as well in St. James. Didn't seem like the person was trying to hide from doing it as it was relatively early. I shred everything as well but I'm sure there are those who don't. Red flag!!!!!!!

Unbelievable! Did you get a description of the vehicle and report it to the Sheriff's office?

Well that's just weird, and creepy.

I only put mine out in the morning right before the truck comes....

I usually put ours out reeeaaaallllll late, like around midnight or even early morning, just before the trucks come around. I just thought I would do it early for a change. I guess I'll have to go back to my old practices.

I think that both of you should call the sheriff's non emergency number and tell them and tell Community Watch too. Both live in the same area. But we all should take note. I thank you very much. We will remember to shred.

We tell our neighbors to take one of ours trash bag and put in there drive way if they are leaving town so it looks like they are home maybe that happen or there neighbor didn't have but one bag to put out in there driveway so they took one of yours to put in there neighbors so it would like they are home. We try to look out for rack other since we don't feel safe these days

TV is rampant with "pickers." They go around on garbage nights to see what us "rich" folks call trash. I have seen them anytime after 9 pm cruising our street and shopping our trash. The other night they shopped my neighbors garbage, took what they liked, and then left other less desirable items they had gotten elsewhere on the driveway. Tore open bags and just left them as well. Usually the pickers are in rusted pick ups but these folks were in a new Buick. They saw me watching them but just didn't give a hoot and continued doing their thing. Don't know if it is against the law to go though other's trash once it is outside. Have to watch more CSI to be in the know!!!

On this I would take their license number and call the sheriff's non emergency number. I can understand taking usable discards on the driveway, but to open trash is another. Everyone shred your pertinent information. We are helping each other on this thread.

Once you put anything on the curb it is fair game for anyone who wants to take it away.
What would the Sheriff do?

Thanks for the heads up about the trash pickers. I will be sure to monitor this at our house. Just to add a spin, my husband was a law enforcement official and when they were performing investigations they would take people's trash. They were dressed in plain clothes and used unmarked cars.

I know longer shred. .use it to start my grill

Law enforcement, various types of private and corporate investigators, employers, ID thieves, just curious folks and others will pick through trash for different reasons. It has happened to me. Before shredders were invented I used to burn all my paper documents in my fireplace. Now I use a heavy duty shredder which cross cuts the paper.

Celebrities, politicians and wealthy folks have their trash picked. Some want to know what they eat, read. They even want their thrown away clothing and other personal junk.

I may have watched too much Dragnet, but I believe the courts have said trash put at the end of your driveway is considered to be discarded and is therefore fair game.

The only thieves I have caught in the act are the wild cats and coyotes. :popcorn:

If I catch one of them in the act, they can have the trash!

Some cities and towns, where it has become a big problems, are passing ordinances that require trash pickers to buy a yearly permit. The police enforce it.

I use my dog's bagged poop as a deterrent. Always dump the poop can contents on top of my house hold garbage before I tie up the bag. Trust me if someone opened it they would be bowled over by the scent!

Hope they like kitty poo, too!:icon_wink:

Are they going through the "trash" trash or the recycle stuff, which usually has lots of paper stuff? I tear our names off of envelopes and shred that part, too. Don't forget about medical stuff...especially the information about the prescription drugs you might be taking.

I also shred listings of club members, church members, team members, etc. Sometimes, there's lots of information there including your Villages ID number.

Question: If the trash is on the edge of your yard, is it still considered fair game? That's where I put mine much of the time after forgetting it was there and backing over it....MAJOR mess.:yuck:

Ok, maybe it's not a crime. However, I think I'd still consider it "suspicious." I believe law enforcement asks citizens to report anything suspicious. Maybe I'm wrong?

Maybe a moot point, but isn't it trespassing to come on to one's property uninvited??

The one's I have seen stand in the street and just reach in. Don't know if they know about trespassing or just too lazy to go any further.

Or it could be you're not trespassing if you're in the easement? I don't know... ask the people who let their dogs... NO WAIT. Don't do that.

It isn't trespassing. Do you have a fence with a locked gate? Do you have "No Trespassing" signage? Have you specifically told the person(s) not to come on your property?

Who is a licensee?
Licensees are individuals who enter upon the property of another for their own convenience, pleasure, or benefit (Stewart v. Texas Co., 67 So.2d 653 [Fla. 1953]; 41 Florida Jurisprudence 2d Premises Liability section 53). This includes uninvited licensees whose presence is tolerated or permitted by the owner of the property (Boca Raton v. Mattee, 91 So.2d 644 [Fla. 1956]). This category also includes discovered trespassers and trespassers who have done so for a substantial period of time with the owner's knowledge (41 Florida Jurisprudence 2d Premises Liability section 53).

To what extent am I, the property owner, responsible for licensees?
For visitors classified as licensees, the property owner is responsible in cases where the owner willfully injures that person or that person is injured due to the owner's wanton negligence. Additionally, the property owner has a responsibility to warn the licensee of any known dangers thata someone would not readily notice (Emerine v. Scaglione, 751 So.2d 73 [Fla. 2d DCA 1999]; 41 Florida Jurisprudence 2d Premises Liability section 55). An example of a licensee is the case where P entered a store to get change and was injured after slipping on a greasy floor. P sued the owners, claiming they failed to warn him of the greasy floor. Because P only entered the store to get change and not to shop, the court found P to be a licensee rather than an invitee. The court said that licensees, upon entering property, assume whatever risk of injury that might exist due to conditions of the property unless those conditions are hidden (Stewart v. Texas Co., 67 So.2d 653 [Fla. 1953]). It is important to remember, however, that where conditions show a willful or gross disregard for safety, the property owner will be held responsible to injuries caused to licensees from such conditions.

Ok, guess it is not trespassing. Thanks for the info

It is trespassing. The property around your home is "unenclosed curtilage"...

810.09 Trespass on property other than structure or conveyance.—

(1)(a) A person who, without being authorized, licensed, or invited, willfully enters upon or remains in any property other than a structure or conveyance:
1. As to which notice against entering or remaining is given, either by actual communication to the offender or by posting, fencing, or cultivation as described in s. 810.011; or

2. If the property is the unenclosed curtilage of a dwelling and the offender enters or remains with the intent to commit an offense thereon, other than the offense of trespass,commits the offense of trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance.

Also...did you know that if your dog bites someone you are liable UNLESS you have a sign saying "BAD DOG"...so with all the construction and strangers milling around my street, I do have a sign in the window saying private property no trespassing BAD DOG.
I'm sure there are rules against posting signs, however, this one is required by law for the protection of the public and the homeowner.

No matter what you call it, how you slice it, dice it dissect it, present it, or identify it,what the bottom line is that people can steal information that could lead to identity theft or other privacy invasion. Trespassing or not. What it is deemed legally is NOT pertinent in this discussion.


Burn or shred your valuable information and don't put it in a trash bag that some danged lazy ass person who does not want to work can take and steal your hard earned money.


Or burglarize or rob it. Semantics Shlamantics.

Kitty, I hope that NON bad Dog Emma can't read!

I apologized to her profusely for the sign, but she smiled at me with pride in her eye. I think even good dogs can go bad when someone violates their owner. Probably not so the trash pickers, but she'd give them a scare.

:agree: 110% I got caught up in the discussion about what's legal...:ohdear: It's never legal to steal something of another, be it material goods, an identity, or their pride.

Bottom line... it happens all the time, and every one needs to take steps to prevent that from happening to themselves. Shredding is a good start.

Read your quote:

If the property is the unenclosed curtilage of a dwelling and the offender enters or remains with the intent to commit an offense thereon, other than the offense of trespass,commits the offense of trespass on property other than a structure or conveyance.

It is only trespass if they enter the unenclosed curtilage with INTENT TO COMMIT AN OFFENSE.
Good luck proving intent. Taking someone's refuse is not an offense, as has been established in this thread as well as many others.

JB in TV,


Although I replied to your post, my intent was not to correct you. Your posts are always reasonable, considered and fair.


Your friend and fan,


Gracie.

Understood, no worries, didn't take it that way. :coolsmiley:

Well, even I once grabbed a great old wooden chair that someone on my street had put out with other trash, etc. (It just had some paint splatters that I removed) But I cannot imagine it is okay to open garbage, take what you want and leave the rest all over the ground. That is littering and a nuisance.

good idea

Tried that once at 6:30 and the trash had already been picked up on the street, when I called they said it was fair game anytime after 6.

And we've noticed that after the snowbird season, the trash and recycle pickups become earlier and earlier in the morning, because they don't have as many houses to stop at. So in those months we put it out the night before.

I would think that's true! It's garbage.