[TexasGunLover]

DC freepers, this what pickups were designed for

Picking up materials that are not yours is theft.

[ClearCase_guy]

Picking up materials that are not yours is theft.

Let the owner step forward.

[Keyhopper]

It’s not theft, that’s a safety hazard! Someone could trip and get hurt🤗

[Svartalfiar]

Picking up materials that are not yours is theft.

Picking up abandoned property is not theft.

If you read the bottom half of the article, they're obviously not owned by any construction company - they don't leave stuff open on the street, plus a permit/barricade is required when stuff is on sidewalks. So, the only conclusion is legally that this is "abandoned" property, and removing them actual helps the city out, cause they don't have to spend money picking up all the unpermitted stuff!