RCMP say they have received about 60 calls from people who say others have been taking their belongings since a flood left Yorkton underwater three weeks ago.

Piles of furniture and other damaged goods are stacked up in front yards, on driveways and along streets waiting to be hauled to the landfill — and now, some people are worried about scroungers helping themselves to the items.

"We've been receiving complaints that suspicious persons have been actually rummaging through that refuse that has been put out for curbside pick up and taking it for an unknown purpose, whether it would be for their own use or possibly financial gain," said Yorkton RCMP Cpl. Kristina Just.

For weeks, Aron Rushka has been stacking damaged goods in his front yard, things such as a fridge, stove and some kitchen cabinets. A dump truck took away the items only this week.

'It's a big biohazard risk to the people who are actually taking this stuff.'—RCMP Cpl. Kristina Just

Rushka is among residents who have noticed that some people have been helping themselves to flood-damaged goods, which he admits he doesn't want any more.

"If they want that junk and they want to get sick over it, they can have it. It's garbage anyway."

"I came back here one day and I see a guy looking for copper. That's about it. That's all he said he was looking for: copper and bottles," he said.

Rushka said one item that disappeared from his yard was an electric cooler that was once worth $100. "It's worth nothing now, but it's gone," he said.

Police are warning looters that some of the things they're carting away are dangerous because they've likely been contaminated with pathogens from sewage.

"It's a big biohazard risk to the people who are actually taking this stuff," Cpl. Just said. "These things have been left to sit there and spoil. The black mould will be growing. You start utilizing that stuff, bringing it into your own home, and you could affect the people who are handling it."