Two individuals were seen crawling into the dumpster behind a shopping center in Brunswick, Georgia. Our trained ECAM security operator alerted local police. Officers arrived and instructed the two suspects to exit the dumpster. Both individuals were handcuffed and taken away in the patrol car.
The Facts Behind Dumpster Diving
Urban foraging. Freeganism. Curb shopping. Dumpster diving. No matter what you call it, one man’s trash is truly another man’s treasure.
No longer relegated to the homeless and unemployed, dumpster diving has become a big trend in recent years. Some are doing it professionally to make a profit. Some are doing it as a way to boycott consumerism and live off the grid. Whatever the reason, they don’t have to dig very deep to find a treasure. One reason, Americans
discard nearly 40 million tons of food annually.
For the most part, dumpster diving is legal in the U.S. There are a few exceptions. If the dumpster is located on private property, then it is illegal. Additionally, if the receptacle is up against a building or enclosed within a fence that has a “No Trespassing” sign, the participants could be ticketed or arrested. In some cases, taking trash from a private property may constitute theft.
So, what does this mean for business owners?
Some dumpster divers could be on the hunt to steal personal identification information or other financial documents. That could be big concern for business owners. Another worry is the residual littering from those picking through the trash.
How to Deter Dumpster Divers
- Reduce accessibility by keeping the dumpsters on private property
- Put up fences around the area
- Hang “No Trespassing” signs that are clearly visible
- Lock the dumpsters
A proactive security solution like live video monitoring can also be an effective deterrent. Trained video security operators watch surveillance cameras in real time. If they see unusual activity, like a dumpster diver, they can activate a speaker to warn the suspect he/she is being watched and call police, just as you saw in the video.
If you are experiencing criminal activity at your retail center or other type of commercial property, and would like more information about live video monitoring, contact us.
