Southampton wheelie bin stolen from cancer sufferer's home

Married couple Alan and Jill Byrne, from Redbridge, said they were saddened to discover their large general waste bin was stolen.

They told the Echo they discovered the rubbish container had vanished on Saturday - with the rubbish inside dumped opposite their home.

Alan, who has skin and lung cancer, has since locked up his bins and added extra security including CCTV to his home.

READ MORE: Met Office: yellow warning for flooding in Southampton

Alan Byrne locking his bins (Image: Hannah De Boltz, Newsquest)

The stolen bin has since been replaced by Southampton City Council and Alan has locked all the bins to a fence.

Alan, 67, said: "It was Saturday morning after we went to the shops we spotted rubbish all over the ground and we recognised it as ours.

"We picked it up because I didn't want to be fined for fly-tipping. They had taken it from our front garden.

"I think they wanted it because it's a large bin. It would cost you £50 for it. I couldn't afford to replace it either.

"How things are going with energy bills, and being a pensioner, I couldn't afford to replace it - but the council did it for free for me.

"The only thing I can think of is that the people who stole it saw it on bin days."

He added: "I understand that a large bin costs more, and not wanting to pay for it, but to go into someone's front garden to take a bin is senseless." 

Jill said she worries the thieves could come back again.

The 66-year-old said: "We've done everything we can to stop it from reoccurring.

"If I could I would put the bins in the hallway but when they get full they are too heavy for me to lift.

"We didn't sleep at all the Saturday night. It's disgraceful that someone would steal a bin from disabled pensioners."

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