Newport Beach police can arrest trash scavengers under new law

The Newport Beach City Council voted to make it a serious offense to scavenge through trash.

Newport is taking a strict enforcement approach, police officials have said, because scavengers sometimes steal bikes and other personal property from residents' garages, and scavengers have been caught collecting information for identity theft. Before Tuesday's vote, police officers in Newport only had the ability to ticket the recyclers, so officials asked the city to pass a law that would give them the authority to arrest them.

"Newport Beach has been known as a target of opportunity and low risk," Newport Mayor Mike Henn said.

In neighboring Costa Mesa, the  Sanitary District is taking a different tact, considering locking some of its residents' trash cans.

Read the full story here.

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-- Mike Reicher, Times Community News

Photo: Trash day on one city street. Credit: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[ljl]

As much as I like to think these people that go through our trash cans are only trying to find aluminum cans, more times then not they are looking to steal our identity. I only wish it were illegal in all cities. Shred your documents people.

[My view means nothing]

How rediculus! Is the city that strapped for cash that it has to punish the homeless that are usually the ones going through the trash cans to get at the bottles and cans that the rich throw away? Can't the rich afford a paper shredder?

[Windfall]

This is a step in the right direction; however, the Supreme Court should apply the Fourth Amendment to trash containers as well and require police to obtain a warrant before searching through peoples' refuse.

[Growler]

It is about time. I know that there are some folks out there who are only looking for recycling materials to sell. However there are a good amount of them that are complete scum, and damage/steal your property, whether it is your bike, or your car, etc.

[Katz Meow]

Can this be passed city wide? I don't like my garbage being rummaged through.

[Zach]

"Is the city that strapped for cash that it has to punish the homeless ...Can't the rich afford a paper shredder?"

Meanwhile, in the real world, there are middle-class people who are also vulnerable to identity theft, and cities rely on revenue from recycling.

[marti]

Talk about a week article.
How come the The U.S. Supreme Court decision on California v. Greenwood, that anyone can access garbage that has been put out to be collected because it is considered public property. what about other cities like San Jacinto who had proposed similiar ordinace. I don't think they were enforceable.
The police in Newport say that scavengers sometimes steal bikes and other personal property from residents' garages, and scavengers have been caught collecting information for identity theft. How about some examples of when theses events occurred, or is it just hearsay.
Whats wrong with Newport Beach residences. If someone is on your property without permission, its tresspassing; someone empties the trash can and leaving a mess it's littering. Those things are still illegal. Scared over your identity, buy a paper shredder.

[Allivoyl]

This happens in my city all the time. In fact I came home one day to see my neighbor’s trash being rifled through and saw the man doing it, also take all their mail from their mail box. I feel sorry for the older people and homeless that collect cans and bottle; some people are ruining it for them. But I'm uncomfortable with someone going through our trash without asking!

[Roger Thornhill]

For My View and other critics of the law, how about this: post your addresses on this site, so that way the scavengers will know that it's okay to dig through your trash, leave trash on your yard and driveway, and look through your discarded documents and those of your neighbors, and feel welcome. Put your principles where your keyboard is.

Windfall, cops aren't looking to steal identity, they're looking for criminal evidence. Nice anti-police jab, though.

[BlueMama]

The majority of trash thieves are not poor homeless. I see cars and trucks roaming my neighborhood the night before trash collection. They steal the recyclables from the blue bins, which belong to the city and should produce revenues for the city.

I am sure some of them are casing the neighborhood for crimes of opportunity. It creeps me out when they rummage through my trash, even though I shred documents.

The police do nothing about them. I would like to keep these scavengers out of my neighborhood.

[My view means nothing]

I SHRED! It's not that expensive! The homeless need the money worse than the cities do! We're only talking nickles and dimes folks. Have your mail delivered in in a mail box that has a key. These are available at your local hardware store cheap. There, problem solved.

[Bruno]

The way to get rid of this problem is to ban recycling centers. Let the city handle recycling from its blue bins and its own centers. Without the private recycling centers, the bums would not have anywhere to turn in their scavenged garbage. They would soon stop rooting through our trash because there wouldn't be a profit in it.

[donna]

this law is so evil. Someday a tsunami is gonna turn these mean and arrogant residents and Huntington Beach into Huntington Ditch.

[Woeto America]

The comment about people being evil for enacting this law is extremely naive and obtuse. it's about time cities start protecting the way of life and health of the citizens! in most Latin American countries it is a way of life to go through the trash of anybody that you think is better off than you! and people even look for food! and now finally that dirty habit has reached us! and worse things will be seen unless measures are taken now to prevent the spreading of disease and invasion of privacy! wake up people! the customs and way of life we are used to in the USA is dying and being replaced by the worst filthy habits of banana republics!