A Teesside man was left baffled after being offered counselling over the theft of his wheelie bin. Karim Allison, from Ormesby in Middlesbrough, got a Victim Support letter after reporting the bin missing. The 47-year-old branded the offer "ridiculous" and said real victims were in need of help.
But Victim Support said it relied on information supplied by police and was offering help to someone listed simply as a victim of theft. Mr Allison has since been sent a replacement wheelie bin.
He said: "I didn't really care that much - it's a bin at the end of the day. It's something you put rubbish in. I wouldn't class it as a crime. I had to report it so it would be replaced and I got a replacement, which I was happy with. When I received the letter I thought it was absolutely ridiculous bearing in mind there are real victims of crime out there who need victim support. I'm not one of them."
Cleveland Police said the incident was probably listed as a theft and passed on to Victim Support as a matter of course.
Paul Fawcett, a spokesman for the charity, said: "I understand why it sounds funny and clearly the man didn't need help, but that could have been a vulnerable old lady.
It could have been the latest incident in a campaign of harassment. We are totally dependent on what the police tell us. A 'theft' could be anything from a wheelie bin to the Mona Lisa. If we don't know the exact details we offer emotional support in case it's needed."
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