Vandals causing load rage

CHLOE JOHNSON
HOOLIGANS who steal wheelie bins and drag them behind their cars are infuriating Hawke's Bay residents and business people.
Last week Action Rubbish Bins replaced six wheelie bins after they were stolen to be towed at speed behind vehicles. Clean Earth and Waste Management also report that more bins are going missing.
Action Rubbish Bins managing director John Hogan said the problem was mainly in Taradale and although the thefts had been going on for a few years, they had increased in recent weeks.
The $100 bins had usually been stolen during the school holidays but now he suspected youths were taking them so they could wreck them for fun.
``It's usually a random thing in school holidays but it seems these ones are doing it every night, sometimes three or four times a night - driving around looking for them,' he said.
Waste Management manager Hamish Waddington said one bin had been found with the bottom burnt out.
``It had probably been dragged around by a car, ' Mr Waddington said.
Mr Hogan received a call from a customer on Friday who was woken up about 2am by the roaring sound of a ``crash'. Later that morning she found her wheelie bin on the front lawn in several pieces, and rubbish everywhere.
Mr Hogan said he and his team had to pick up the mess that remained.
He had contacted Napier police who ``just recorded the complaint and basically said what can we do?'
Owner of Clean Earth and Waste Deborah Burnside said she called police last week and was told the customer needed to lay a complaint.
``Their advice was to have customers respond, so all our customers involved were sent a letter on Friday asking them to call police if it has happened to them.'
However, Senior Sergeant Wendy Wright said she was unaware of any complaints. Hastings Senior Sergeant Greg Brown said they had had complaints in the past but was unaware of any during the last two weeks.