Someone is stealing our trash...

[An Officer]

Both my downstairs neighbour and I put out our trash this afternoon, and it was gone shortly after... now, the garbage truck only comes in the mornings. Then we noticed about half a dozen bags gathered below the stairs in front of the empty basement flat below street level. It seems a homeless person has been sleeping there, we haven't seen them, we just saw a mattress. The strange part is, all the bags are just sitting there, perfectly in tact, they don't seem to have been tampered with.

My question is, what would anyone want with trash? Or is there something I'm missing? I don't think they were looking for bank details or anything like that, like I said, they weren't opened, and if they had been, they were neatly closed again. Weird. Bank details would be a fruitless task anyway. They could look for years and not find a thing.

I'm just baffled. Some of those bags look like they've been laying there for weeks - filthy. Very peculiar. Now we're going to have to clean it up and figure out a way to stop it happening along with our neighbours.

Suggestions?

 

[Jadzia]

My question is, what would anyone want with trash? Or is there something I'm missing?

If we're to assume the unseen homeless person is collecting them, the reasons could be:

- The bags might contain something edible or of value for their survival.
- Moving bags outside is something for them to do, to take their mind off their situation. It may also give them some meaning in life to feel they have helped in some way.
- They have developed a neurotic compulsion to collect things.
- Trash is the closest thing they have to possessions, so it is pacifying for them.
- Trash is the closest link they have to other people, so is comforting for them to have for that reason.
- It may be softer than concrete.
- It helps keep the weather out.

 

[Mr Light]

Maybe they were using them as pillows to sleep on...?

 

[Zulu Romeo]

My question is, what would anyone want with trash? Or is there something I'm missing?

If we're to assume the unseen homeless person is collecting them, the reasons could be:

- The bags might contain something edible or of value for their survival.
- Moving bags outside is something for them to do, to take their mind off their situation. It may also give them some meaning in life to feel they have helped in some way.
- They have developed a neurotic compulsion to collect things.
- Trash is the closest thing they have to possessions, so it is pacifying for them.
- Trash is the closest link they have to other people, so is comforting for them to have for that reason.
- It may be softer than concrete.
- It helps keep the weather out.

Maybe they're building a fort but can't get hold of pillows and quilts?

 

[An Officer]

I guess any of those things could be possible. Damn bizarre.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

But didn't you want to buld a fort out of anything lying around in your bedroom when you were a kid, though?

 

[K'Ehleyr]

Maybe it's just for warmth. If it's not a problem at the moment, see what happens.

 

[Aragorn]

The cat's out of the bag. You're either a celebrity and the paparazzi is stealing your garbage to find some dirt on you. Or you're an athlete who is suspected of doping and your trash is being investigated.

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Have you tried looking for this homeless person and tried reasoning with him or her? Maybe find out what they are looking for, directing them towards the best place to help them, etc.?

 

[An Officer]

Only worked the problem out today... so I haven't had time to take action. Not sure if I should confront them, at least not on my own, what if they're a delusional drug addict or something, and they mistake me for an assailant...

 

[Aurian]

Just be careful whatever you do. Sounds very allround uncomfortable.

 

[An Officer]

Will do. Definitely.

I am just concerned about trash that's been sitting a long time attracting rats and cockroaches and god knows what to the building. Yuck!

 

[Lindley]

"Someone's stolen our garbage again!"

 

[Gil T.Azell]

What kinda of trash?
Food waste? (Maybe they're hungry?)
Paper? (Potential I.D. Theft?)
just crap? (Their shopping cart is empty)

 

[An Officer]

Usual kind of trash, everything basically. Nothing that would allow I.D theft though, we destroy those. We don't separate our trash anymore because we found out the council just bungs it all together in the truck anyway, then ships it to Nigeria to sit in large heaps.

"Someone's stolen our garbage again!"

Good one.

 

[Marie1]

Make sure you're shredding anything with your PI then... and so on... (if you aren't doing it anyway) including credit card receipts...

 

[Geckothan]

Weaken the bags so that they fall apart when somebody tries to pick them up, and load them up with fecal matter. Install a CCTV camera looking at the area where you put your trash out and let the fun begin!

 

[Angry Angel]

Which will most likely mean that one has to clean it up as well.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

Make SURE that you are not putting papers with any critical information in the trash without putting them through a good crosscut shredder first. Dumpster diving IS still a method people use for identity theft.

I would suggest you keep a careful eye on your credit reports for anything that looks fishy.

 

[Geckothan]

Which will most likely mean that one has to clean it up as well.

Would be worth the cleanup!