Wheelie bin theft victims billed £21k

8:21am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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Wheelie bin thefts in the borough have cost residents more than £21,000 in replacement fees over the last 18 months.

Since the beginning of 2007, 469 bins have been reported stolen to Barnet Council, which charges residents £50 per replacement.

Residents paid out £21,350 during this time, with 42 bins provided free of charge to those on low incomes.

Faraz Zaidi, of Burnt Oak Fields, was asked by the council to pay £50 after reporting his bin stolen on June 13. Although his bin was found by council inspectors two weeks later, and the fee transferred to the person who took it, he believes the charge is unfair.

He said: "The council should provide this service as part of the council tax. We contribute towards policing, graffiti, housing, street cleaning etc, so why not this too?

"It's very unfair. We are victims already and then we become victims twice over by having to pay for a replacement.

"We have to put our bins out and can't disguise them, so it's not our fault if they are stolen. What if it happens again? That's a lot of money to pay."

The council said it had no plans to drop the charge.

A spokesman said: "Residents are responsible for the care and upkeep of their bins and they need to take all reasonable precautions to prevent bins being lost or stolen. If they are lost or stolen, £50 will be charged for a replacement.

"The council will carry out limited investigations through a site visit if requested, which includes initial checks of the serial number of the missing bin.

"This is followed by inspections of neighbouring properties and the vicinity to attempt to track down the bin."

This year's figures represent an increase on the previous year, with 302 bins reported stolen in 2006, amounting to £14,550 in residents' costs.