It rarely occurs to consider the freely standing garbage containers near residential buildings as objects of theft. However, last night, such a conclusion could be drawn after seeing a video recording from the window of one of the apartments in Imanta, reports the Degpunktā program (TV3).
Around half past three in the morning, a diligent compost enthusiast was spotted in Imanta — a man stealthily dragging a bio-waste container between the apartment buildings, as reported by TV3. After pausing for a moment to catch his breath, he continued on his way — stepping off the path and disappearing into the night darkness.
Finding a logical explanation for such actions is difficult. The nearest containers are located at the houses across the street, and it is quite a long and tiring journey — several dozen meters through the snow in cold weather.
"Degpunktā" decided to check what it is like to pull a filled bio-waste container uphill in winter: after just a few meters, the weight is felt and the wheels get stuck in the snow. It is now clear why the man had to take breaks while pushing the container around the neighborhood. Representatives of waste management companies note that one cannot remain indifferent upon witnessing such a situation.
"If a person sees from the outside that a container is being taken away, the first thing is to determine if it looks like theft. If it does, one should contact the police," explained the representative of "Eco Baltia vide," Alise Zvaigzne.
In connection with the actions of the past night, no report of container theft has been registered in the law enforcement registry. However, if the man had been caught at the scene, criminal liability would have followed. This time, the victims were the local residents themselves, who were left without a compost container. In some municipalities, containers at houses are considered a given, while in others, residents have to pay for them themselves.
The fate of the containers is in the hands of the clients themselves. Management companies explain that there are proven solutions to prevent damage, arson, and theft of containers.
