Trash bins on the street can be a smelly eyesore, but for some thieves they emit the sweet aroma of money.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department is reporting a rise in the theft of plastic trash bins. The reason?
"They take them to the grinding factories to the recycling places and sell them illegally," said Lt. James Wolak. "They are grinded down and sold to the black market."
Thieves can get about 30 cents a pound for the plastic. A thief can make $9 on a trash bin weighing 30 pounds, detectives said.
In the past six months, Wolak’s department has recovered $4 million in stolen plastic.
To deter thieves, he suggests marking your bin with your name or address. Then if police see bins on the back of a truck, they can identify the owner.
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