Op-Ed: It’s Not Just A Garbage Can, It’s A Big Deal

by a CH Resident

Neighbors, please be on the lookout. The individual in the attached footage was caught on camera stealing a garbage can right here in our neighborhood. Several other residents have also reported missing cans, so it’s very possible this is the same thief making the rounds.

Now, some people might shrug and say, “Come on, it’s just a garbage can.”
But it really is a big deal. These cans are not cheap, and the city won’t replace them if they’re stolen. That means every time this happens, hardworking families are forced to spend another $50 out of pocket—money that could have gone to groceries, bills, or even to tzedakah. To make matters worse, if you don’t have your trash in the proper can on pickup day, you risk getting fined on top of it all.

It’s not just about the money, though. This kind of crime chips away at our sense of safety and respect in the community. As Rabbi Yossel Wineberg, a”h, once told Governor Pataki back in Crown Heights in 1991:  “The criminals are free-roaming the streets of New York, And the innocent citizens are locked in the houses. Let us hope that the governor will help to it, Like the Rebbe mentioned (when they met earlier that day) It’s not for me, It’s for the Community, It’s for the entire State of New York state”   We cannot allow that reality to repeat itself.

It may start with a garbage can, but it rarely ends there. Thieves get bolder. What’s “just a garbage can” today becomes bicycles, packages, even break-ins tomorrow. That’s why it matters that we take this seriously.

So please, be alert. If you see this individual, keep a safe distance and call 911 and Shomrim right away. And if you’ve had something stolen, don’t just brush it off—report it. Share your footage. There is power in numbers, and when we stand together, we protect not only our own block but the entire community.

Let’s make it clear: in our neighborhood, theft—no matter how “small”—will not be ignored. When even the so-called “minor crimes” are dealt with properly, we stop them from escalating into something much worse.

May we soon see a day when our streets are safe, our property is secure, and our community no longer has to worry about stolen garbage cans, bicycles, or Amazon packages.