Wheelie bins seem to be a hot commodity in Oamaru.
Last week, four bins were stolen in Oamaru - two from Aoraki Polytechnic, one from outside the Allied Press office in Thames St and one from Tees St whose contents were found spilt near Wharfe St, but the bin was nowhere to be found.
The theft from Aoraki Polytechnic was of particular concern, as the bins were kept behind a locked gate, Waste Management area manager Allister Murdoch said.
Those thefts followed another in Hull St in recent weeks.
Usually, bins reported stolen or missing were found nearby, but these had disappeared.
Mr Murdoch described the spate of thefts as "quite bizarre''.
"It's usually kids being stupid and they're bored and it's holiday time,'' he said.
"You'll find them a couple of blocks away, or somewhere else ... we've found them before in the cemetery, of all places.''
It was very unlikely they had been emptied by Transpacific staff at a different location without staff noticing.
"We've got pretty strict policies in place that 'if the bin is not on your schedule, you don't pick it up','' he said.
"We keep a pretty close eye on where bins turn up in odd places.''
Mr Murdoch has reported the thefts to the Oamaru police.
Anyone else missing a Waste Management wheelie bin can contact Mr Murdoch on (03) 434-0031.
Any information on the thefts can be reported to the Oamaru police on (03) 433-1400.
Awamoa Bins & Skips have not had any reported wheelie bin thefts.
