Dumpster diving (Merced: apartments, homes, unemployment)

[centuries]

Originally Posted by miggelecuty7

leave the dumpster divers alone, they gota live to

Not at my home they don't. Let them go to a commercial dumpster behind some commercial building, and the illegal breeders from Mexico can go back where they come from or request to enter the US legally if they have something substantial to contribute to our country and communities other than a million welfare anchor-babies, gang violence and being a plight in public.

[teachertype]

I used to ride with a guy in Boston who was into dumpster diving. This was about 23/24 years ago. He owned a business and didn't need the money really, more of an eccentric jazz musician who enjoyed the hunt, but the money was still good.

We used to go out in his van early in the morning on trash day in the Boston suburbs and take the bottles and cans straight from the homeowner's recycle bin. The Sunday paper and old telephone books we took to a paper recycler on Shawmut Ave in Boston for cash. We also took anything clean and re-saleable like lamps, furniture, luggage, books, etc.

The best time for dumpsters was move-out time at change of semesters and end of school year in Boston when college students just threw out huge amounts of furniture and whatever rather than ship it home. We resold the furniture, music cd's, clothes, books, appliances, televisions, ...you'd be surprised what the entitled middle class just throws away.

I usually drove the van or was a sort of lookout for things. I never actually went inside a dumpster myself, he did that, and I never even got my hands dirty. By lunchtime we'd have a few hundred dollars in our pockets and head to P.J Rourkes on Newbury St. for London broil au jus, baked potato and a domestic cabernet. Most of all...it was a LOT of fun, the money beat working for a living and freed us to be musicians/artists, and we had some very interesting experiences.

[Mr. Mysterious]

Anybody is capable of stealing your identity...

Its a 50 billion business for organized crime. I can name a few cases on how your identity can be stolen, besides your beloved dumpster.

[centuries]

Originally Posted by vegaspilgrim

I'm living right by USC, and I've noticed on several occasions here homeless people on bicycles get inside my apartment complex and start fishing through the dumpster ...Or is this considered acceptable behavior in LA?

No, it's not acceptable, except by the powers that be that refuse to deal with the issue. CA trespassing law states clearly that only a land owner or their representatives are legally allowed to take anything from said land, least it be considered trespassing.

These people are not screened, and you have no idea who they are which makes them -extremely- potentially dangerous, and the chance of them being caught should they commit a crime of convenience, like, rape, theft, or murder, would be slim to none.

It's a security issue, a HUGE security issue. These derelicts are desperate characters indeed. Not to mention, that they and their repulsive digging through the trash, trashes your quality of lifestyle and peace of mind at your hard earned expense, ...or, why not just move to Compton or to some other slum neighborhood for less rent -seriously?

The police and/or property management co. may respond if you have the illegal trespassers description and/or license plate number (many park their cars around the corner) if you continue to bother them repeatedly.

Your best defense is a camera or video camera, posting the issue everywhere. Send a copy to the president of your property management company and your city mayor.

If that doesn't correct the problem, bite the bullet and get the hell out of there, paying higher rent in a better neighborhood that doesn't allow dumpster diving on their property. Do your research, and ask a future would-be property management team if they allow it on their property. After all, home sweet home isn't so sweet when you live daily with nasty derelicts at your door - digging through garbage, is it?

[teachertype]

Originally Posted by centuries

CA trespassing law states clearly that only a land owner or their representatives are legally allowed to take anything from said land, least it be considered trespassing.

These people are not screened, -extremely- potentially dangerous, rape, theft, or murder, ...

It's a security issue, a HUGE security issue. These derelicts are desperate characters indeed.

The police may respond if you continue to bother them repeatedly.

Your best defense is a camera or video camera, posting the issue everywhere. Send a copy to the president of your property management company and your city mayor.

Sounds like a crusade. If I did all that my reputation would shift into the aluminum foil hat zone.

[centuries]

Originally Posted by teachertype

Sounds like a crusade. If I did all that my reputation would shift into the aluminum foil hat zone.

It already has, ...go back to Mexico.

[centuries]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mysterious

Anybody is capable of stealing your identity...

Its a 50 billion business for organized crime. I can name a few cases on how your identity can be stolen, besides your beloved dumpster.

Is it really about "your beloved dumpster" as it were? ...illegal trespassing is a crime for good reason.

[centuries]

Originally Posted by Lovehound

I forgot to address the issue of trespassing. The simple fact is that the police are too busy fighting serious crime (murder, robbery, burglary, auto theft, rape, gang activity) to give any attention to minor crimes such as trespassing ....

Trespassing is a serious crime and the frontline to rule of law in a civilized society ...put in place to protect citizens before the fact, not after the fact of would-be (murder, robbery, burglary, auto theft, rape, gang activity), ...who needs city ordinances, the law or the police after the fact?

[centuries]

Originally Posted by Clnconcpts

Why would you care if they go through your trash?Remember you threw it out,means you dont want it.Now its open game for anyone who wants it.yuck

Garbage may not be the only thing illegal trespassing prowler dumpster divers are looking for.

[centuries]

In this thread, to all appearances there seems to be a few who understand the seriousness of unabated illegal and unknown trespassers at one's place of residence. In So-Cal this is way out of control, like a bunch of wild dogs running amuck in our private housing communities and residential neighborhoods.

Respectively, common sense suggest that anyone who wildly presumes that prowling, desperate, trespassing-on-private-residential-property dumpster divers are harmless, and/or are just good people who have fallen on hard times is a fool. Or, perhaps the majority feel that these said lawless individuals have a righteous self-control and/or self-discipline, while casing your place of residence, though this is not likely being that they are committing a crime already with little chance of being identified or caught by authorities, who care little about protecting you or your property before the fact.

We all have a civic duty within our immediate communities and to ourselves, to legally address, confront and act upon any real or potential threat to our neighborhood, property, home and family.

Trespassing on residential property by unknown, desperate transients is definitely a real threat. This holds true, even though the powers that be (who are supposedly elected and hired to protect hardworking people before the act of criminal and violent actions against innocent citizens), simply look the other way.

There is a difference between upholding the California laid back attitude vs using our famous easy going reputation to hide behind. Laziness, indifference, irresponsibility and the lack of a backbone will not resolve the every growing potential danger, and only encourages unknown trespassers to push the line further and further towards invading your privacy and home.

Police and property management companies are in place to help protect us, yet, the responsibility ultimately falls to every individual to secure and lawfully protect themselves, their own property, home and family. It speaks volumes when trespassers at your place of residence encounter no resistance, just because people prefer not to deal with the unpleasantness of it, or the added burden. Rest assured, by ignoring it the problem will escalate to unmanageable levels towards an inevitable bad ending, sooner or later.

Trespassing dumpster divers (or crime of would-be convenience waiting to happen), count on the fact that the powers that be won't respond, stating it's only a nuisance complaint. Why not turn the tables on these home invading derelicts. Let them know, without doubt, that they are not welcome via a nuisance offense against them.

SOLUTIONS: One is only limited to their lack of imagination regarding the many means one can take to run off trespassers. With persistence, they'll get the message eventually and go to easier hunting grounds like most prowling predators. It's a sport to prowlers as to just how far, and how much they can get away with. Therefore, you make a sport of it, as to how crafty, and annoying you can be in pulling the welcome mat right out from under them. I read somewhere that the following shows results over time.

A FEW NUISANCE IDEAS - FIGHT FIRE WITH FIRE

Remember when you were a kid during Halloween?:

*The idea is not to be seen by said trespasser while doing sport against them, or they just might trash your car or stab you some day out of retaliation.

*The idea is NOT to physically HARM anyone by any means, but to simply let them know that they are being watched, and that they are NOT WELCOME, sending the message go away!!!

* Crouching behind an open window or balcony in throwing distance, or via a drive-by on fast moving bikes with several guys: rotten eggs, water balloons filled with whatever, firecrackers, paintball, etc., etc. works wonders in informing transient trespassers to move on and don't return.

*Crouching behind an open window or balcony and SCREAMING!!! ...GET OUT OF HERE ...TRESPASSER, POLICE, POLICE, ...I'VE ALREADY CALLED THE POLICE AND YOUR GOING TO JAIL FOR TRESPASSING!!! In most cases here in So-Cal they don't speak english but SCREAMING POLICIA! POLICIA! works too.

*While wearing a hat, sunglasses and holding the camera in front of your face, don't allow them to get a good look at you; then, let them see you photographing and filming them, and their car from a safe distance (don't let them know exactly where you live for safety reasons) with at least two or more ...but don't engage with them should they challenge you, keep silent and just keep filming, but if they attempt to approach you leave quickly stating to each other loud enough to be heard, "call the police or policia", "quick call the police." Also, make your cell phone most visible. In uncertain terms send the message via your actions that you're feed up with having them make you feel uncomfortable at your own home, ...turn the tables, make them feel uncomfortable, and keep making them feel uncomfortable and grossly out of place.

*Try contacting the police chief in your area, city mayor and president of your property management company with your proof (photos and video.)

*You can also begin posting your filming results via every form of media with the names and contact information of the powers that be -mentioned above.

*Do anonymous mailings to as many of your neighbors as you wish stating that you are a part of a start up neighborhood watch, directing them to where you posted your photos and videos, with the contact info of the above mentioned powers that be, and encourage them to also take videos and photos and do what you're doing.
>NOTE: The powers that be within your immediate community won't respond until you do, and nothing gets them moving towards doing their job like mass public awareness that can seriously affect election campaigns, salaries, job positions and overall bank accounts.

These are just a few ideas I read about that might help protect you from potentially dangerous creepy-weirdos prowling about in YOUR parking lot (not theirs), and at your hard earned expense, while trying to get to your car, the trash, the pool or laundry room.