BIN THERE, NICKED THAT!
Fury as thieves take grit containers from streets
THIEVES who stole a grit bin from the side of a road have been accused of committing a ‘crime against the community’.
The plastic yellow box was taken from Leigh Street, in Burslem, in the dead of night – with the thieves leaving a pile of salt behind. A grit bin was also stolen from nearby Navigation Road on the same night.
The thefts follow a political row about the lack of grit bins in some Stoke-on-trent streets during this winter’s cold snap.
Now police are checking CCTV as a councillor appeals for the bins to be returned.the Leigh Street bin was installed in February – at taxpayers’ expense.
Ward councillor Lesley Adams, above, said: “I’m so angry. Whoever has stolen the grit bin from Leigh Street, please return it. This is a crime against the community. This is one of four paid for from my ward budget for the good residents of Leigh Street, Louise Street and the surrounding area to use, not for an individual to help themselves to it for their own personal use.
“It has been reported to the police and they are currently checking the CCTV in the area.”
Councillor Adams added: “The camber on the roads is terrible and the residents have been waiting for a bin for ages. It’s a community bin bought from my ward budget so obviously to replace it means that it will reduce my available funds next year.”
Police are appealing for information following the thefts, which were reported on March 24. Anyone who has any information should call 101, quoting incident 176 for Leigh Street and 266 for Navigation Road. Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.
The Sentinel has contacted Stoke-on-trent City Council for a statement following the thefts.