Thieves have caused yet more chaos to bin collections in Tameside after targeting the borough's refuse depot for the second time in three weeks.
More than a dozen bin wagons were broken into at the Stalybridge site over Christmas and New Year causing around £50,000 worth of damage.
Ten tablets that had been hardwired into the vehicles, as well as a mobile phone, were stolen.
The first break in is said to have happened the week before Christmas, when nine wagons were targeted.
A further five were broken into last night (Tuesday), which caused disruption to today's brown bin collections.
Security has now been increased at the Tame Street depot, and all technology has been removed from the wagons.
Police are also investigating.
A Tameside council spokesperson said: "We have experienced two break-ins at our refuse depot, on the weekend before Christmas and January 7, where 14 bin wagons have been broken into and ten tablets that are hardwired into the vehicles, and a mobile phone, have been stolen.
"These have been immobilised making them of no value to anyone else.
"Police are investigating these crimes and we have passed on CCTV footage to them, increased security at the location and removed technology from the vehicles.
"The break-in and thefts before Christmas disrupted ten bin collection rounds at the peak festive period and overall this has resulted in excess of £50,000 of damage and loss to the council, including repairs and service disruption, which is not only local taxpayers’ money but completely avoidable costs.
"Our bin wagon crews have worked tirelessly, particularly over the Christmas period, to recover the situation and ensure the minimum disruption to residents."
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