Thou Shalt Not Rifle Through Thy Neighbor’s Trash

It is often said that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Often times that may be the case- just check out all of the online classified sites that are doing so well. Especially now, when the national economy creates more coupon clippers and bargain shoppers daily, the general public are experimenting with more ways to save money. More people are recycling, others are cleaning out the garage and selling what they don’t need, still others are taking in side jobs to help make ends meet. But in some areas of our community, City officials believe the urge to make a little extra cash is becoming a detriment to those who live here.

In an effort to further make Rancho Cordova a safe and positive place to live, the City Council passed an ordinance that prohibits any unauthorized entry into waste containers. This ordinance strongly correlates to the Building Strong Neighborhoods Program and is aimed at making it very clear that going through waste receptacles is prohibited. It is now a violation of City code for people to reach into a container and remove materials.

Kerri Simpson, the City’s Code Enforcement Manager says that Code Enforcement receives many complaints about people digging through garbage and recycling cans. This is a common problem in many neighborhoods as people will dig through the cans to take any items of worth. Lt. Richeal of the Rancho Cordova Police Department adds that the ordinance will be a great help in regards to identity theft. Many people do not shred documents and when stolen, those documents can easily lead to someone stealing their identity. She urges people to call the RCPD non emergency phone number (916) 362-5115, to report suspicious activity.