Surrey Live
·Aug 2026
What to do if your neighbour steals your wheelie bin – your legal rights explained
Wheelie bins can be lost, misdelivered, blown away or stolen, so residents should first ask neighbours and search nearby areas. If a privately owned bin is stolen, the theft can be reported to police via 101 or the police website; council-owned bins should be reported to the local authority, which may charge for replacement unless collection crews caused the damage. To deter theft, residents should put bins out as late as possible, bring them back promptly, label them with their house number, store them securely and consider using a lock that is removed before collection.