Council warden appeals for help to track down bag slashers (From Darlington and Stockton Times)
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Council warden appeals for help to track down bag slashers
11:30am Monday 3rd December 2012 in News
A COUNCIL environmental warden has asked people for help to identify areas where rubbish bags are regularly slashed open by people looking for ways to make money.
Darlington Borough Council’s environmental wardens have been patrolling alleyways around the town to watch out for people cutting open black bags and to clean up the mess afterwards, but say it is becoming a dangerous job during the dark nights.
John Headman, a council warden, said: “We will come out early in order to tackle the bag slashing but we don’t want to be in a back lane in the dark with someone who may well have some sort of weapon with them. That’s an issue for us and we have to be aware of that.
“People throw all sorts of things out in the rubbish and this is attracting the bag slashers to see what they can find. There might be a bit of metal in there. However small that amount is, they’ll take it out.”
It is thought the bag slashing problem is also due to people putting their bags out well before bin day.
The wardens have asked people to put their rubbish out from 7pm onwards on the evening before bin collection.
Durham Police has reported a sharp rise in the number of metal thefts in Darlington in recent weeks, which police believe is connected to changes to the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, which came into force today (Monday, December 3).
Dealers used to pay cash in hand for metal, but will now only be able to pay with a cheque or through a bank account, with the aim of cracking down on casual metal thieves.
Mr Headman said: “Obviously I don’t expect people to tackle these bag slashers. If it’s dark do not challenge somebody, because you never know what they’re carrying.
“People must be seeing people cutting the bags open. Help is what I need to identify all of these people. It’s information that I’m after.”
Anyone with information on the bag slashing should call the council on 01325-380651 or the police on the non-emergency number 101. If the bag slashing is happening at the time, call 999.
Comments(6)
Spy Boy
says...
7:50pm Mon 3 Dec 12
darlo86
says...
8:19pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Put the bags out on the morning of collection. The lorries don't come until after 7:30 I imagine
Homshaw1
says...
12:10pm Tue 4 Dec 12
darlo86 wrote:Always been 7pm the evening before as far as I am aware
how true Spy Boy. I thought there was a fining system in place.
Put the bags out on the morning of collection. The lorries don't come until after 7:30 I imagine
You would think it was possible to put some sort ot security on these new whellie bins to stop this happening
oliviaden6
says...
4:24pm Tue 4 Dec 12
what these individuals forget going through and removing anything from a skip is THEFT and can carry the same penalties as theft from houses etc.
Homshaw1
says...
2:18pm Wed 5 Dec 12
oliviaden6 wrote:You regularly read of people carrying out serious repeaded assaults and getting a suspended sentence.
It's not just BAG slashing what about the muppets that turf rubbish out of skips to have a look for loot. This is just a big a problem.
what these individuals forget going through and removing anything from a skip is THEFT and can carry the same penalties as theft from houses etc.
Realistically they have little to worry about
Homshaw1 says...
4:01pm Mon 3 Dec 12
Can't imagine they would be hard to catch if you really wanted too. Can't say I've seen any police or council workers. Obviously well camoflaged