POLICE have nabbed a driver who threw as many as 11,700 empty beer cans on nature strips in the same Mulgrave street over the past 18 months.

Police said irate people in the quiet street were finding two to three plastic bags containing as many as 30 empty Carlton Draught cans each weekday.

The driver stuck to a strict routine, throwing the neatly tied bags between 7.30am and 7.40am.

Glen Waverley police Senior Constable Nick Schnerring told the Leader that police had received several complaints in the past 18 months, but no details of the vehicle or driver.

The people of Bertrand Ave had simply gritted their collective teeth and obligingly disposed of the bags and cans.

“Then last Monday, one of the residents finally had enough,” Sen-Constable Schnerring said.

“We had a breakthrough when several neighbours hid behind bushes and noted the registration and make and model of the car.”

Sen-Constable Schnerring and partner Constable Adrian Staudt headed out early yesterday morning and sat in an unmarked car waiting for the Mazda driver.

“Sure enough, we observed the man drive along the street and throw two bags on a nature strip,” Sen-Constable Schnerring said.

A slab of Carlton Draught costs about $46, which means over the 18 months the tossed empties totalled 487 slabs worth more than $22,000.

The man could have pocketed as much as $1170 if he had have taken the cans to South Australia for recycling.

When the officers intercepted the driver they feared he would be well over .05.

“Our immediate priority was to make sure he wasn’t a danger to other road users so we breath-tested him, but he wasn’t over the limit,” Sen-Constable Schnerring said.

type_quote_start A slab of Carlton Draught costs around $46, which means over the 18 months the tossed empties totalled 487 slabs worth more than $22,000. type_quote_end

“We really caught him offguard. He immediately admitted the littering offences and was embarrassed, extremely apologetic and explained his personal circumstances.”

The man, in his late 30s, told police that he was on his way to work.

Police fined the man with a single $300 Environment Protection Authority penalty for depositing rubbish from a vehicle and inquiries are continuing.

“This was very unusual behaviour,” Sen-Constable Schnerring said.

“It was very frustrating for the residents of the neat and tidy street. They’d really had enough.”

Glen Waverley police Sergeant Adrian Stafferton said it was a good result for the residents and police.

“We were happy to deal with this through proactive policing,” he said.

The man will need to face a magistrate if he failed to pay the fine or continued to toss his cans in the street instead of in a recycling bin.

If you need help phone Alcoholics Anonymous on 1300 22 22 22 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.