Off Topic But Is It Illegal To...

[momofboys]

in our old neighborhood, we has a street lady who drove her shopping cart around collecting aluminum cans off the street and out of people recycling bins. I didn't care, honestly. She was just surviving, and not hurting anyone, as far as I am concerned.

I don't know how I'd feel if someone came in a truck. I guess it would depend. Honestly, by the time he pays for gas, he's probably loosing money. I saw a lady out by my road pulling over and picking up cans. Her car was running the whole time, and it probably took her 1/2 hour to get down that stretch of road. Probably an unfair assumption, but I figured she needed cigarette money REAL bad!

The minute your guy touched the mailbox, I would have called the police with a license plate number and description!

Totally not the recycling company's property - it is still your proerty at least until they pick it up. Now if he is looking through your paper receycling & you don't shred your junk mail I would be concerned. But the way I look at it is unless he comes to your home & causes problems who is it hurting - I mean does it bother you that he will take the cans & make a few quarters? More than likely he is hurting really bad to rifle through people's recycling. I once had someone haul away an old washing machine from our front yard that the local trash co was going to haul for me (at a cost of $35). This man obviosuly was going to either use the parts or sell the metal. He saved me $35 so I had no problem giving it to him - and he asked first. I really wouldn't get overly concerned if it were me.

[Breezy]

The officer came out as soon as I had finished washing my hair in the shower (of course!! hehe) and so I jumped out of the shower and opened the door a tad to tell her I was going to get dressed quick.

Threw on my pjs and a robe and let her in and she took the information from me and looked at the pictures. She said she saw several trucks close to my house but wasn't going to pull anyone over until she talked to me first. She said it was a good thing I called and with home invasions during the day on the rise that who knows why he might be looking at mail. Could even be to see where one worked to see what typical hours are, etc.

I told her I was a DC provider and she said that I did the right thing and to let them know if anything else happened!

I wonder if she went and talked to the neighbor who had his mail taken too.

I just hope it was indeed very innocent and that this man meant no harm- but these days you never know.

[Ariana]

A guy rifles through my garbage regularly collecting cans. I've never had my identity stolen. It doesn't bother me, he looks like he needs the money and it's better than begging IMO.

Hopefully this guy was not doing anything malicious. Better safe than sorry though...

[Michael]

Your city will see that as stealing. Police report.

[Countrygal]

You know, I'd like to know legally about this. I have a neighbor that rifles neighborhood garbage and then spreads gossip about all the neighbors about what he finds. Around here I'm told that if it is out by the road it is public property (in the road right-of-way). However, I find that hard to believe. After all, then someone could come and take any nice-looking garbage can he desired!

I live in a rural area - no city regulations.

Your question got me thinking. I may just call my county to find out.

[LittleD]

Until last year it was fair game in our city. But the passed a by-law that says that people can't remove stuff from our recycling. I'm glad. I don't want people going through my stuff. It's not like they are going to make any money off my recycling anyways!