ORLANDO, Fla. – The Orange County Sheriff’s Office is encouraging residents not to let their holiday trash advertise their gifts to thieves.
Instead of leaving big boxes for products like TVs, gaming systems or computers by the curb, OCSO is urging residents to drop them off at one of their so-called “Burglar Box” locations.
The specially-marked dumpsters are available through Jan. 9 at several locations across the area.
In the northwest area, you can find them at the OCSO Sector 1 Sub-Station at 1111 N. Rock Springs Road in Apopka and the OCSO Sector 3 Sub-Station at 475 W. Story Road in Ocoee.
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For the East, the East Orange Community Center at 12050 E. Colonial Drive and LaQuinta Inn at 11805 Research Parkway in Orlando are housing the dumpsters.
In the west, drop boxes are located at Saint Luke’s United Methodist at 4851 S. Apopka Vineland Road, and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office at 2500 W. Colonial Drive in Orlando.
Central locations include Sedano’s Supermarket at 12981 South Orange Blossom Trail in Orlando.
For the southwest, you can use the dumpster at Winn Dixie at 11957 S. Apopka Vineland Road in Orlando.
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OCSO said that using the Burglar Box locations helps prevent theft by keeping gift packaging out of sight from potential thieves.
Other municipalities have also placed Burglar Boxes for resident use.
In St. Cloud, dumpsters are available at the City Transfer Station at 2705 Peghorn Way until Jan. 2.
In Holly Hill, the police department is bringing back the program for the second year in a row. The dumpster is located in the department’s parking lot until Jan. 4.
In Winter Park, the dumpster is at the Corner of Swoope and Virginia Avenues until this Friday.