Warning on stolen rubbish bags

Rotorua police Inspector Ed Van Den Broek said a woman had been arrested in relation to bags being taken in the Pandora Ave area on Wednesday. Photo / File

Locals are being warned not to buy any cheap rubbish bags from door-to-door salespeople after reports of people stealing them.

The Rotorua District Council alerted residents to the problem this week, which was followed by police arresting a woman for thefts of some bags.

On Wednesday, this message appeared on the council's Facebook page alerting people to the situation: "Just going to ask you all out there, if someone knocks at your door selling council rubbish bags please don't buy them.

"The bags are stolen. We have had a glut of stolen bags lately.

"It seems there is a vehicle following our delivery trucks and stealing the bags from properties once the delivery truck leaves the area.

"The bags are then sold door to door. The police are aware of this happening."

The council delivers 52 rubbish bags a year to each ratepaying property in the district. They are delivered in two lots of 26 bags in the urban area and once a year in rural areas, and are usually found laying on the driveway.

Meanwhile, Rotorua police Inspector Ed Van Den Broek said a woman had been arrested in relation to bags being taken in the Pandora Ave area on Wednesday.

"We recovered 12 packs of rubbish bags and gave them back to the council," he said.

Norma Faye Hirst, a 37-year-old Rotorua cleaner, pleaded not guilty in the Rotorua District Court yesterday to two charges of stealing Rotorua District Council rubbish bags worth $433.54.

She was remanded on bail to reappear on November 5.

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