Prices of iron and steel have soared in recent years sparking criminals to clammer for anything metal.
Thieves across Hammersmith & Fulham have cost council taxpayers around £30,000 by stealing bins.
Prices of iron and steel have soared in recent years sparking criminals to clammer for anything metal, which has led to around 70 bins being stolen from across the borough in 18 months.
It’s not just the metal bins that have created money signs in the eyes of criminals, but metal bin liners, metal containers on housing estates and even trays from gum and cigarette butt bins have been stolen.
“It is incredible that people will stoop as low as stealing our bins – and all for the sake of a few quid,” said Councillor Greg Smith, deputy leader and cabinet member for residents’ services at H&F Council.
“Putting it simply – stealing bins is rubbish and these people are trash. Help us stop this.”
Residents have seem baffled that anyone would want to steal the council’s rubbish bins.
Shepherd’s Bush resident, Ashley Jameson, said: “Why would anyone want a grubby old bin?”
The council have reported the missing bins to the police, with most having disappeared from the Shepherd’s Bush area.
They now plan to replace metal linings with plastic ones, but are urging anyone who has seen anything suspicious to contact the council or the police immediately.
Cllr Smith said that people stealing the bin linings are making the council’s job harder to maintain the cleanliness of the streets, of which he calls some of the cleanest streets in London.
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