YOUTHS are taking wheelie bins from outside Keighley houses during early-hours rampages.

Some of the plastic bins are later found burned out in the nearby Ingrow Lane skate park, say disgruntled residents.

They claim up to ten bins have been taken during the last three weekends with some householders being targeted again after buying replacement bins.

The latest incident in the ‘Jewel Box’ neighbourhood was caught on the CCTV camera outside Bracken Bank Stores in Ingrow Lane.

Shop owner David Mortimer uploaded his film to Facebook to warn residents of nearby streets to be vigilant, and the footage is being examined by police.

Mr Mortimer said he had managed to salvage his own bin in working order, but neighbours in streets such as Opal, Emerald and Pearl Street had not been so lucky.

He said: “Youths are stealing bins left, right and centre if they’re not chained up. The remains of the bins are in the skate park, just blobs on the floor.”

Mr Mortimer stressed that the youths, believed to be aged at least 18, were not “bone fide” users of the skate park, who he said were well-behaved and left the park once darkness fell.

Sergeant Tany Ditta, of Keighley NPT, said that in the past six weeks only three bin thefts had been reported to police in the Ingrow area.

He said: “If people get their bin stolen and are having to pay £30 to replace them, we need to know about it, then we can act to stop it happening.

”The public need to be aware to take precautions, including putting their house number and postcode on their bin.”

Sgt Ditta also suggested people keep their bin out of sight in the garage, shed or garden, and if necessary security to their house with a chain or bike lock.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins urged people to identify to police the youths in the CCTV footage, so the perpetrators could be “named, shamed and punished severely.”

He added: “The skate park is a popular facility and the young people who use it deserve better, as do the local business owners and residents affected.”

Anyone with information has been urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.