Although often vilified, the bulky bins can be useful around the home and garden and are increasingly targeted by crooks.

Coventry Council is losing 100 bins a week. Bins are for sale on the internet at up to £80.

Councillor Hazel Noonan said: “There’s a definite market for them.”

Some bins are stolen by fraudsters who search the contents for documents to use in fraud or used by burglars to transport stolen goods. Others are taken by householders to store rubbish because of infrequent collections.

Binsafe, which makes safety devices to prevent bins being taken, say’s: “Wheelie bin theft is a massive problem.

“Criminals actually break into houses then use the wheelie bins to carry the loot away.”

Article was published in the Daily Express UK