The Strange Case Of The Missing Manhole Covers!

Monday, 5. July 2010

A rather strange type of crime has emerged around the country putting drivers lives at risk – the stealing of manhole covers. The thefts have left gaping holes in the roads and local authorities with big bills to pay. The covers cost up to £400 to replace. Surry County Council has had 536 stolen costing £160,000 to replace. This has hurt councils even more as hundreds of millions of pounds have already been slashed from their budgets. The main reason for the thefts has been the soaring price of scrap cast iron. Now call me dopy but surely with a limited number of scrap yards in the UK it wouldn’t be that difficult for local authorities to check to see if they are taking in manhole covers or warn them that they will be prosecuted for receiving stolen goods if they didn’t report those trying to sell manhole covers. Doesn’t strike me as rocket science! By Graham Hill