Photo by John T. Bennett

Like other police departments around the United States, the U.S. Capitol Police went to a heightened state of alertness yesterday following the detonation of two bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon.

On Capitol Hill, the increased security measures appear to include the removal of garbage and recycling cans. People walking to work on the Hill this morning spotted the cages that hold the refuse bins tipped over and laid on the grass, with no actual receptacles to be found.

A Capitol Police spokeswoman referred DCist to the brief press release the agency put out yesterday after the Boston explosions, stating that Capitol Police are “being diligent in response to the events in Boston and taking additional practiced steps.”

Similar measures have been spotted at other high-profile locations around the country. In New York, travelers passing through Grand Central Terminal have spotted garbage cans covered up by, no less, large black trash bags.