You threw away what?!

You live in the Upper East Side and resorts to picking up cans....:yuck:

The telephone pole ground wires have all been cut off around here by theives. Several of us have reported it to the power company and it hasn't been fixed. We're in danger if there's a good jolt.

Wish they'd steal our "bulk" trash. City wants $12.50 per "bulk" item but no one takes our broken old electronics, typewriters and beat up trash. Maybe I should bring it to NYC?

Quote from batterycharger : The telephone pole ground wires have all been cut off around here by theives. Several of us have reported it to the power company and it hasn't been fixed. We're in danger if there's a good jolt. Wish they'd steal our "bulk" trash. City wants $12.50 per "bulk" item but no one takes our broken old electronics, typewriters and beat up trash. Maybe I should bring it to NYC?

Freecycle, look on there for a group in your area, then advertise that you have "scrap metal" for pickup - and you would be amazed. I have a regular I get in touch with that lives not that far from me, he is retired and his wife is ill - this is how he picks up extra money to help with the bills - so I will email him directly now and tell him when we have scrap metal available - rather than posting on the Freecycle group. Though if I just put it to the curb, even a day before trash day, it will be long gone before the trash men ever come. Last night was trash night, the trucks were up and down the streets; it's rather funny to watch; because if they see you they speed up and go away - so I stand outside and watch for them - just to make them go away when there is nothing on the street to be had.

Today's news in my area, 2 people stole three commercial air conditioner's from a building the other night and moved them into the woods and covered them with leaves, debris and other items. The owner's of the business came in the next morning and discovered the "theft" - they had cut thru the fencing to get these out, and would have needed carts to get them out - they were that heavy. So the owner called the police, they came out - found the equipment in the woods - and set up a surveillance. Now ya know how this turns out Yep, the two crooks come back, take the a/c units, and off they go and there is a police chase, from one state into another state - one guy fled on foot once they stopped the vehicle, but they caught him, and both were wanted for various reasons with warrants out for them. But at least they have two of the lowlifes now

Quote from Piccaboo : Freecycle, look on there for a group in your area, then advertise that you have "scrap metal" for pickup - and you would be amazed. I have a regular I get in touch with that lives not that far from me, he is retired and his wife is ill - this is how he picks up extra money to help with the bills - so I will email him directly now and tell him when we have scrap metal available - rather than posting on the Freecycle group. Though if I just put it to the curb, even a day before trash day, it will be long gone before the trash men ever come. Last night was trash night, the trucks were up and down the streets; it's rather funny to watch; because if they see you they speed up and go away - so I stand outside and watch for them - just to make them go away when there is nothing on the street to be had. Today's news in my area, 2 people stole three commercial air conditioner's from a building the other night and moved them into the woods and covered them with leaves, debris and other items. The owner's of the business came in the next morning and discovered the "theft" - they had cut thru the fencing to get these out, and would have needed carts to get them out - they were that heavy. So the owner called the police, they came out - found the equipment in the woods - and set up a surveillance. Now ya know how this turns out Yep, the two crooks come back, take the a/c units, and off they go and there is a police chase, from one state into another state - one guy fled on foot once they stopped the vehicle, but they caught him, and both were wanted for various reasons with warrants out for them. But at least they have two of the lowlifes now :applause:

Here there is now a prolific problem with the theft of metal hooks off city dumpsters. These are what the trash trucks hook onto to lift and empty the dumpster. The scrappers are probably getting $0.50 but its costing the city a fortune to replace them.

Those 2 crooks will cause more expense in the 'system. than the damage they caused.

The short time they are off the street someone else will take their place

They introduced a finger printing policy at scrap yards where a database is being kept of people that take scrap in and they have to account for where they got the scrap. Only thing that did was push the thieves to go across statelines to scrap buyers and out of the City limits.

Only real solution is to make it a crime to steal from dumpsters and have vigilant neighbors report everyone doing it. Those same scrappers if they dont find stuff to recycle in dumpsters then start looking in peoples backyards for stuff to steal like grills , patio furniture, bbqs, bicycles. Then its not a big leap for them to look for an easy way to break into someones house. Alot easier to go unnoticed in a back door or window than through the front (heck they are in the alley anyway)

Quote from stephenNYC : Forgot to mention --- snagged a WaWa milk crate as well. Those are great for storing stuff in the closet. Dunno where it came from tho, I haven't seen any WaWas around here....*opens google*

Do you live in a barn?
Close Google now!

Post pics of your loot. Well the good ones anyway, don't care to see a milk crate.

Quote from Scampsters : Here there is now a prolific problem with the theft of metal hooks off city dumpsters. These are what the trash trucks hook onto to lift and empty the dumpster. The scrappers are probably getting $0.50 but its costing the city a fortune to replace them. Those 2 crooks will cause more expense in the 'system. than the damage they caused. The short time they are off the street someone else will take their place They introduced a finger printing policy at scrap yards where a database is being kept of people that take scrap in and they have to account for where they got the scrap. Only thing that did was push the thieves to go across statelines to scrap buyers and out of the City limits. Only real solution is to make it a crime to steal from dumpsters and have vigilant neighbors report everyone doing it. Those same scrappers if they dont find stuff to recycle in dumpsters then start looking in peoples backyards for stuff to steal like grills , patio furniture, bbqs, bicycles. Then its not a big leap for them to look for an easy way to break into someones house. Alot easier to go unnoticed in a back door or window than through the front (heck they are in the alley anyway)

Fingerprinting would be good, but as you say, they will only make a hop, skip and a jump. They are already hitting high end homes here, simply because there is a lot of land between each home (think McMansion's) and people are normally not home during the day - easy targets and rich in valuables. I remember friends who moved to Texas when the economy was bad another time period - and they said they literally could not leave any lawn furniture out - as it would be stolen as you are stating.

Quote from ikonoklast : Post pics of your loot. Well the good ones anyway, don't care to see a milk crate.

Milk crates are awesome for in the garage for storage - they are what I consider a lucky find as well They also work well in the trunk of a vehicle to keep things nicely contained, in your shed if they are configured correctly, you can use them as a tool holder, turning them upside down. I can think of lots of things to do with milk crates

another milkcrate use

2x4 and 2 milk crates and use them for a couch.

Quote from Scampsters : another milkcrate use 2x4 and 2 milk crates and use them for a couch.

Yep, and when you have a long, heavy tow chain, you store it in a milk crate and it has handles - which is what makes them so valuable to me

Quote from Piccaboo : Yep, and when you have a long, heavy tow chain, you store it in a milk crate and it has handles - which is what makes them so valuable to me

You have great decorating ideas you should have your own TV show on TLC and start your own line of furnishings at JC Penney

Quote from Scampsters : another milkcrate use 2x4 and 2 milk crates and use them for a couch.

also...

Quote from emelvee : also...

Thats a bit dangerous considering chinese milk crates are lined with lead.

Have you ever heard of this group in NYC that calls themselves "freegans"? Basically they scavenge restaurants at closing time (like 2am) and ask for leftover foods that would either be thrown away or donated. Much of the time owners will just give it away for free to be free of the hassle, sometimes they will charge pennies on the dollar, but it's always a deal. Imagine getting prime cuts of meat or expensive fish because it was out of the fridge too long or they've had it too long. Bread in particular gets dumped every day because it has to be fresh. Veggies will go the moment they start to wilt a little. Of course I'm talking about finer restaurants, and not crappy little ones that will really push it with regard to what they sell. But the places that sell $50+ entrees are not going to risk their reputation on a bad piece of fish. They will give it away and serve something fresh the next day.

I had a guy at work tell me my neighborhood was good to scavenge on trash day. I was like, "whaaaaat???".
I will admit I was coming home one day and saw a bunch of fishing rods being thrown out. I stopped and found rod and reels, fishing boxes, and all kinda tools. I figure the guy living there had died or got caught cheating.
There was also a rolled up rug, but looked badly stained with red paint or something.





OK OK I embellished the last part of that story.