Have you seen my twin?

August

Today is garbage day in my neighborhood in Airmont.

We put the can out last night, but when we walked to the end of the driveway to collect the newspaper this morning â€” no can.

That’s right, someone STOLE my garbage can â€” with the garbage STILL IN IT.

I’m peeved. I just bought two new cans in the spring and it cost me $52 and change with tax. I desperately needed the cans since my others nearly had their bottoms shaved off after being dragged up and down the driveway for a number of years. The lids had been gone a while, as well, no doubt finding refuge in the same place as the world’s missing socks.

The new cans were black, tall, had wheels and a locking mechanism to keep out pests. Too bad they couldn’t keep thieves away!

Garbage cans serve an important purpose because they not only corral trash for the benefit of public health, they also keep garbage from the streets, where it can wash into storm drains or just make the neighborhood look blighted.

Anyway, annoyance quickly faded to concern as I began to imagine the worst: Garbage-Stealing Identity Thieves. I mean, that’s how identity thieves work, isn’t it? They get a pre-approved credit card or other offer made to you via the mail, pretend to be you, call the company, then get a card in your name?

I tried to think about the garbage I’d thrown out since Friday, when the last collection was made. I have no idea if I chucked anything important.

My next stop was the Ramapo Police Department, where two of the town’s finest took my report and asked me some questions. They suggested I shred way more than I’ve been doing lately. Also, I should consider spray-painting my house number on the can from now on. (How ugly those cans look!)

I also learned another nearby house in Ramapo had a similar can stolen today.

So I guess someone’s got a nice new pair of trash cans for their home while my family and another’s are out money and a can. Nice, huh?

One is the loneliest number

This can’s “twin” has been stolen. The empty space was once home to the missing can.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 26th, 2008 at 3:01 pm by Laura Incalcaterra.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Print | Email

It is a condition of your use of the comment features associated with the blogs that you do not: Use the site to post or transmit any unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane or indecent information of any kind, including without limitation any transmissions constituting or encouraging conduct that would constitute a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability or otherwise violate any local, state, national or international law. You alone are responsible for the material you post or send. Refer to the Terms of Service.