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The South Slope Trash Bandits
Thursday, October 4, 2012 at 11:42AM 
I received an intriguing email from a reader a couple days ago about a weekly trash heist that's been going on in the South Slope. Here it is:
"I live on 6th ave, between 15th & 16th. Almost every week I see these two vans, one 15 passenger van, and one cargo van pull up on to my street. Out pour like a dozen people with shopping carts, and they return with dozens and dozens of black garbage bags which they load into the vans. I don't know if they are then going through it looking for personal info to steal identities or if they are stealing the recycling.
I've called the cops twice when this is going on, and they have yet to show up to see what's going on. I've attached two pics of the vans that I took this morning. These two vans are always the ones that show up, and its always on the day of trash pick up."
Quite mysterious. There have been a couple articles published about cardboard poaching and recycled paper theft, but this organized activity appears to be different, as they're making off with black garbage bags as opposed to recycling. Trash theft in order to steal identities is a fairly common activity, as outlined in this NBC News article:
"As I continued to go through the ... trash, I was able to compile a list of their service providers: water bill, phone bill, gas and electric, cable, and so on. I could use this information not only to gain access into their lives but, if I wanted, to take over their lives."
A warning to all those who live in the area. I've reached out to the 72nd Precinct for comment; I will update if they respond.
Reader Comments (21)
I've seen a few guys in station wagons park near hydrants on various Center Slope blocks near PPW and similarly forage for trash. At least one seems to sleep in his car, as I've seen him there at 11:30 in the evening and again at 6:30 in the AM. A call to the 78th Pct. was met with indifference.
The guy's wagon is so crammed with trash, it's hard to believe he can see out his rear window.
Agree that this is creepy and weird. Just out of curiosity though - is what they are doing illegal? I realize that stealing someone's identity is a crime, but what if they were just taking the trash to look for something valuable to sell or recycyle?
@Real Parksloper: That's probably why the 78th Pct. is indifferent. They're doing nothing illegal. I suppose there is some ordinance against sleeping in one's trash-filled car while parked by a fire hydrant, but probably not worth the effort to enforce.
From what I understand, once you throw something out it's free game for anyone who wants to take it. By putting it outside your property you are relinquishing your ownership of what's in the bags.
If it's recycling they're after, I would recommend shredding all important mail (especially offers for credit cards). I would try and get the license plate numbers just in case (if it's possible).
Thanks for the warning.
From what I understand, in NYC the trash belongs to the city, not just to anyone. This is at least true for all recyclable materials.
Vans look very clean - wonder whether this is part of some sort of clandestine NYPD surveillance? Maybe the trash of a prominent biker or OWS personality, or a <gasp> muslim?
On the other hand, for years (have not been paying attention lately, might still be going on) the staff at the Armory Shelter used to drop off 'special' trash bags on a corner of the big pile of trash, and and return half an hour later to pick them up. God knows what scam that was all about.
As for picking up other people's trash - illegal, but only if you are using a vehicle! See gothamist . com / 2010 / 07 / 13 / garbage_2 . php
I've seen them around 11th Street and Sixth Ave. The trash bags are full of cans and bottles gleaned from household recycling; the workers go from house to house filling their carts and then they bring their full sacks to the van. The man I spoke with told me they are paid by the sack.
Seems like this is the only work some of these men and women can get, and I certainly do not begrudge them.
are you sure these arent the people who put the flyers out for supermarkets?
It's definitely not glass. Come to 6th Ave between 15th & 16th on Wednesday mornings around 9AM to witness the spectacle.
It's the dept of homeland security keeping a watchful eye over us.
If it's receipts they're after it should be in paper recycling not trash.
Are you sure it's trash? On LI a few years back, a guy with a van was hiring day workers, and worked with a person outside with a cell phone. When residents of homes were gone, the cell phone guy would call and the van guy would come in with his workers, and tell them what he wanted them to swipe. The day workers were over a barrel - they were threatened they'd be turned in to immigration if they ratted the guy out - but here they were engaging in criminal behavior for a day's pay.
I thought the same thing was going on in Clinton Hill and talked a little with the precinct about it (they took me seriously) but nothing came of it. A year or two later I read about the LI ring, and thought it was the same system.
crap. does this mean i need to start shredding all my bills, receipts, etc before i throw them away?
It is true that recycling belongs to the City once put out on the curb. Those people are stealing. Call 311 next time and get a Sanitation Cop out there.
Everyone should be paperless by now anyway. If you still get your bills in the mail then you are fair game for any criminal. Paperless bills helps to reduce significantly any chances someone will get your information.
yeah the internet is safe and secure genius
Best to film them and see what they are taking. It is illegal to take trash but the police have better things to do.
Btw a triickle of people go through my recyclables all the time but the are friendly and keep things neat. This is bedstuy.
Get a picture of their license plate next time, then call it in...that first van is parked illegally.
I own a shredding company and the price for paper alone is about $220 a ton. It's also pretty high on Aluminum and other metals. Carboard never brings much in but hey even 12 cents per 100 lbs. is not bad. Calling the cops does nothing for the collection part of what they are doing because once the trash hits the curb it is legally fair game. You should get a retired cop along with a concerned group to approach the van with cameras rolling and just ask what the person(s) are doing and make sure they have all the legal paperwork required to operate the van and then bring the footage to your next local precinct meeting. Other than that. SHRED EVERYTHING. LEAVE NOTHING TO CHANCE.
I am also pretty sure that they are the people who distribute supermarket ads. I've seen them many times. Their vans are stuffed. And I wouldn't be surprised if they also take recycling for some extra cash on their way back. Personally I love it when our recycling is sorted by the scavengers and put to good use, since the NYC program is so flawed and inefficient. The ones who do it by our building leave everything neat and clean.
Saw this this morning while walking past. I could see into one of the black trash bags and everything looked identical, probably flyers, coupons, etc.