Trapped thief cut free from charity clothes recycling bin

A BUNGLING thief had to be cut free from a recycling bin after his alleged accomplices made off with second-hand clothes and left him locked inside.

• River Kids' Wendy Simpson, right, broke down

The Lithuanian man was found inside the large bin by ambulance crews following a tip-off that he had been locked inside and they contacted the fire brigade to cut him free.

He had apparently been unable to escape after passing the clothes out of the skip in the car park of Haldanes store, in East Mains Industrial Estate in Broxburn, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue said: "We got a call to assist the ambulance service just after 1.30pm at Haldanes car park in Broxburn to free a man from a charity collection bin. The man was Lithuanian and didn't speak much English.

"Crews used cutting gear to help to release him and once the job was finished they handed him over to the police.

"He didn't appear to have any injuries apart from the obvious complications of being stuck in such a confined space for a long time.

"It was said that he had been with others who made off with the clothes but left him behind.

"If he hadn't been discovered the consequences could have been very serious."

The bin belongs to Livingston-based charity River Kids, which raises money for disadvantaged children.

Charity co-ordinator Wendy Simpson broke down as she recalled the moment that she was told that 300 worth of clothes had gone missing and been replaced by one worthless thief.

She said: "The money would have gone to buy toys for poor children at Christmas.

"We think thieves arrived in a lorry and partially broke into the skip, sent the man in there and then couldn't get him out again so they just ran off.

"Police said there are organised gangs breaking into these bins and sending clothes back to Lithuania. The price of textiles is at a premium right now so they're in high demand.

"The bin was almost full. Whenever I put something new in there, I always listen to hear how far it drops and the last thing I put in didn't fall very far. When the bin's full the clothes are worth about 300.

"The bin is operated by Nathan's Wastesavers, who said they used to carry out door-to-door bag collections as well but they stopped because thieves kept stealing the bags.

"They're going to install a more secure bin to replace the old one next week.

"We're desperately trying to raise more money to replace the cash we've lost as a result of this theft, so we need people to donate clothes or even cash."

A police spokesman confirmed that a man had been arrested and is due to appear in court at a later date.

To donate to River Kids visit www.justgiving.com/thewestlothianappeal.