In an unusual incident of fly-tipping, a person in a peculiar costume was caught on CCTV in a deserted street late at night, sparking confusion among locals in Southend-on-Sea, Essex. Despite surveillance cameras installed by the local council to combat fly-tipping, the individual in a purple dinosaur outfit remains unidentified.
Footage shared by Your Southend shows the culprit, disguised as a T. rex, crossing the street and dumping two bin bags on the sidewalk. The costume seemingly helped the perpetrator evade a £400 fine for illegal waste disposal in a public area.
A resident who witnessed the event expressed astonishment, noting that the incident occurred just before the scheduled bin collection day, suggesting a lack of awareness about new bin regulations. Another resident humorously remarked on the mischief caused by “Barney the Dinosaur” during the night.
An appeal, complete with a wanted poster describing the suspect’s approximate height of 2 meters and unique T. rex-like arms, has been launched by Your Southend. The poster humorously notes the individual’s fondness for swinging around lampposts.
Fly-tipping is a serious offense in the UK under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, punishable by hefty fines, imprisonment for up to five years, or both for offenders.
Remember to report any instances of fly-tipping promptly if witnessed.