Police are appealing for information due to a continuous rise in wheelie bin thefts across the area.

There have been reports of thefts across North Ayrshire, with replacement stolen bins costing the council £39.30 each.

Many though not all bins are later found to have been set on fire.

Police and the council have been advising residents to secure their bins and report any incidents.

Sergeant Jason Peter said: “We’re still having issues with folk taking wheelie bins across the area. Please phone in and report it, you’re not wasting our time phone in and let us know what’s happening and where it’s happening.”

Inspector Jim McMillan said: “Police Scotland has been working with North Ayrshire Council and Scottish Fire & Rescue Service to raise awareness of the issue in all North Ayrshire Localities.”From working with local communities, we have been able to identify that a number of bins have been stolen and subsequently set on fire. We are asking residents to be extra vigilant and we would encourage following preventative methods.

A North Ayrshire Council spokesperson said: “Over the last two years, there has been a steady increase in the number of replacement bin requests due to the theft of bins.

“Clearly, theft is a matter for Police Scotland, however we are working closely with our partners at Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue to try and find solutions.

“A campaign is being developed to raise awareness of the issue . This will involve putting up posters and distributing leaflets advising people to put their house number on their bins, to retrieve them as quickly as possible after collection and to always keep them in a secure place.”

From April 2016 – March 2017 – 568 bins were reported missing. 

From April 2015 – March 2016 - 457 bins were reported missing.  

From April 2014 – March 2015 – 238 bins were reported missing Residents are asked to provide a Police crime incident number to demonstrate that they believe it to be stolen.