--> What do you think about this? I'm disturbed. <--

[3timesoccermom]

So Wednesday we had our trash and recycling out on the road in front of our house like usual. My daughter heard something outside and looked out to see some men going through our trash cans. She said they pulled out some odds and ends (Hubs had thrown a huge bag of stuff out - not sure what all was in there) and then they left a crudely written note on the front porch about "Redneck Recyclers" - something about they'll haul away your junk for you or something. I'm not sure if they did this because they saw her or if they did it at every place they stopped.

I'm not sure what to think about this but it makes me uncomfortable. On the one hand I'm all for recycling (I'm ashamed to admit Hubs doesn't give a rats rear about it) and if there was something usable or that they could recycle it's better than going into the landfills. Also, I know many people are barely scraping by and looking for every possible way to make a few bucks.

But, I just can't shake the feeling of it creeping me out. Hubs and I haven't even had a chance to discuss it because of his hours lately but I intend to call the police tomorrow and ask if it's legal (that's IF the goobers here in our rinky dink town's force even know). In the meantime I wonder if they'll be back on Saturday to look through the trash again.

What do you think about this?

[JulieDB]

I would call the police. Here it is illegal to go through trash.

[lmcconne]

And other towns/cities have no ordinance against such activity. In those places, once goods/trash are placed at the street, anyone can come go through it or take it.

[Katane]

in my town if it's out by the road it's fair game. People don't usually go through bags but if there is a larger item, a side table, an old radio or something lots of time people stop and pick it up. People also leave things out when it's not trash day for people to take. In my old neighborhood there was a little old man who pulled and trailer behind his truck and gathered things.

All that said it might freak me out if i looked out and two big dudes were diggin through my trash cans

[amylynne01]

Once it's by the road, it's trash and free for the picking! I'm betting they're a less sophisticated version of American Pickers and they probably leave that note everywhere they pick from.

[3timesoccermom]

I guess it doesn't help matters that we live on a dead end road and we're the last ones on the street. We have a very short driveway - 2 1/2 car lengths.

I'm trying to make it not bother me . . . We'll see if they are here again Saturday.

But would this bother YOU?

[amylynne01]

The first time, I'd be a little bothered, but not if I saw the same people again. And not bothered enough to call the police especially if they're only going through your trash and not getting any closer to the house. If it bothers you, put a sign on your trash can asking for no pickers.

[katieyj]

If they were going through the trash can, yes that may bother me. But as PP have said, if you have items that are in site or sitting outside of the trash can, there are alot of people who go around and pick these items up. I also live in a very small town, unemployment is high, it doesn't bother me when they take the things sitting out for trash. But then I see the same people on most trash days making their rounds.

[3timesoccermom]

I would not even bother calling the police. Trust me when I say the ones that work in this town are a bunch of doofusses (sp?). LOL

And I mean no offense to law enforcement in general - I know they're not all like this but you have to trust me on this one.

[Smee]

I don't think it would bother me. The only way I think it would bug me is thinking someone might be scavenging for personal information for identity theft, but we shred all documents, so they'd be out of luck, anyway.