There is a problem in South Minneapolis. I have had a nice extension ladder grow legs, and a variety of other non-ferrous items go missing, some while we were at home. I do not begrudge a man trying to make a living, but stealing from someone's yard or private property is unacceptable and gives us all a bad reputation. There are a number of grocery cart scrappers who take the alum cans the day before, and while they are technically stealing from the recycling contractor who is charged with alley collection, they are also stealing from the homeowner who took the time and energy to separate everything. Why should they get paid?

I am the scrap processing manager at a large facility and never have to go to the curb, but it sure makes me angry to see the wrong that happens in the alleys. Last week I caught a guy sprawled in the alley taking a tv apart, and didn't want to move out of the way. Wow.