I'm not a lawyer, but this might be a regional opinion. I know the cops around here at least don't consider it private property unless A: the owner of the land chooses to press charges, or B: the property is some how restricted access or not normally public access. So for example, the dumpster I raided the other day, it was in the parking lot of a publically accessable and open building (a gym, a realtor, and a weight clinic), so the police wouldn't consider that private property unless the owner of the land (unlikely to be any of the tenants) choose to press tresspassing charges. But, the dumpster behind the local good will, probably WOULD be considered that by the police, because it is in the back parking lot of the building (which is not open for customer parking, its only available to the public when they are dropping things off), AND, the entire lot is chained off when the store is closed. And of course curbside garbage is always open season around here. The only time the cops hassle you on that is if you make a mess. But good garbage pickers always make sure they clean up after themselves. -chris <http://www.mythtech.net>