Last night, just before midnight, An SUV slowed and stopped in front of my house and stole my trash bin. There were two out at the street. One was newer and contained mainly cardboard. They took the older one with the bulk of the household trash. Camera too blurry to offer much detail. Am I being targeted for ID theft ?

IMO, yes. I shred everything, even the envelopes. Especially gun related stuff such as mail from NRA, TSRA, JPFO, CCRKBA, GOA. And political mail, CC solicitations. Sometimes I put out the trash just before the truck arrives. Be safe.

ID theft OR someone with a warrant outstanding once lived at your address or has a last name the same as yours or used your address by accident.

quote:

Originally posted by oldbill123:
Am I being targeted for ID theft ?

Possibly. Do you shred all paperwork, including junk mail containing personal information--even only your name and address, with a good cross-cut shredder?

Not that that will necessarily stop i.d. thieves anymore. There is now software that allows one to place all the shredded bits on a flatbed scanner, in any old order, as long as they're face-down, and the program will re-assemble them.

And the verkakte bubble envelopes are a PITA. You can't feed them through a cross-cut shredder because they'll gum up the works. (Ask me how I know.) So you have to painstakingly hand-shred them with a scissors

It's possible you're being targeted, but is there a reason for them to target you?

It's also possible that someone just wanted an extra trash can, and yours just happened to be handy.

If we want to go through your trash, we usually don't take the can. If your's is bagged in the can, we will grab a bag from the next street over and swap it. if it's not bagged, we'll voluntold someone with a pickup, drive up, dump the can into the bed and refill your's and take off. lol
That was the old days, now with cameras, we'll just come and take your trash.

Who knows the reason. People are strange and have lots of motives for things they do. Get a better camera so you can get a clear picture if it happens again. I can think of other more pleasant ways to accomplish identity theft.

Simple question - how much do your trashcans cost?

For example, in San Diego, they cost something like $150. Oh and if the trash collector breaks your cans and subsequently flag the can as defective, you're still on the hook to pay for the replacement(s).

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Oh and if the trash collector breaks your cans and subsequently flag the can as defective, you're still on the hook to pay for the replacement(s)

^^^^^^^^^
Wow. I just called to get a brand new replacement. Granted it took five phone calls and five weeks, but I got one. That is Cali for you.

I have lived here over 25 years. They took the oldest can which had already been run over once. The cans are 70 dollars. Most everything is shredded and burned. Not the envelopes though. I did donate to Trump so I may be targeted. Wife signed up for Dana so that could be it. Can is 150 feet away from camera. I downgraded the HPS 70 watt light in the front to a 28 watt LED to save energy. Not sure how much I want to invest on Adding a streetlight at the end of the drive and a camera. Can't imagine the perps would be punished as we don't even punish violent criminals anymore.
If they had just taken the trash out, I would not have noticed anything
I don't shred junk mail.

As both a cop and a PI, I took a lot of trash. I should have laterally transferred to Waste Management.
And it wasnt enough to grab one weeks worth of trash, a months worth gives the best info.

Could your camera make out if they were wearing Astros hats?

Thief out of range. Could only see light reflecting from wet trash can as it was moved. I know - Joke

I had one taken a few years ago also.
It's stupid rednecks too trashy to get a garbage service stealing them.

We make a point to remove all identifying informaton before anything goes in the trash, shred it, burn it, and stir the ashes. Material that might identify firearms in the house (ammunition or magazine packaging, etc) is destroyed, as is anything that might give an indication of purchase trends, number of people, or other demographics.

We taught the kids to do it, and practice it religiously.

I can see I need to up my game. Growing up, food trash was bagged and taken out every night. Everything else was burned. We didn't have soda, so cans were limited

About 8 months ago ours had to be replaced due to a wheel that would not stay on the axel and a large crack/split down one side due to mechanical lift arm for dumping into the truck. When replacement arrived a serial number inbeded into the can was recorded onto a spread sheet for proof where it belonged. Then I spray painted (White) 3" inch tall house address numbers on all 4 sides and top lid of the can. Guess only a lock will slow a honest person down. If the want it they will take it even if locked down. ........................ drill sgt.