Chatham petition demands 'bin raiders' action
More than 1,500 people have signed a petition demanding action to tackle so-called bin raiders in Chatham.
Residents have claimed people going through rubbish are looking for scrap metal to sell and for documents in order to commit identity theft.
They told BBC Radio Kent one man was seen dismantling a fridge and others were seen searching for paperwork.
Medway Council and Kent Police have agreed a series of measures including high-visibility patrols.
Victoria Tebbutt said she was spat at and verbally abused when she confronted the man removing wire from a fridge with clippers.
Another resident Sally Briggs said she had seen people using knives and screwdrivers to go through rubbish and she feared someone could get hurt in a confrontation.
Medway Council said waste put out for collection was council property and removing it was theft.
Advice issued to residents includes putting out bins as late as possible, making sure no documentation with personal information is in household waste, and recycling any metal and electrical waste.