Someone went through our bins - has this happened to you?

[megmj]

Tonight someone went through both our bins, leaving the contents all over the front of the house. We were the only people this happened to on our street.

Has this happened to anyone else and are there any recommendations on what to do about this?

Thanks

[Sally Eva]

I watched someone do this to next doors bins. It was very early morning. He was very drunk and carrying bags of refuse already. He went through the flat bins next door taking out bags, sorting them (I couldn't see any rhyme or reason to the sorting) and tossing bags and their contents around. He did this for at least 10 minutes and then I stopped watching.

I went out later and picked it all up.

I considered if I should have done anything more about it and couldn't think what it might be. I could call the police. i could go out and shout at him. Watching, that felt as if it would have been cruel.

He was obviously mentally very ill and unsteady on his feet. One of his arms might have been withered and it hung by his side. He was singing loudly and tunelessly to himself. He had apparently been out all night. He was timid -- he saw me watching and didn't open our bin. I couldn't bring myself to frighten him or drive him away -- where would he go? His sorting, tossing and searching felt like demented but personally satisfying behaviour. Symbolic of something in his mind.

he was unforgettable. This was in Linden Grove about maybe a month ago.

[Jules-and-Boo]

I don't mind people going through my bins but I would object to leaving the rubbish all over the floor.

That's just plain rude.