Ottawa manhole cover thief brought to justice

Super-dangerous for cyclists, since one would just see the black round thing and think "manhole cover", not necessarily double-checking that the hole is actually covered.

I could never be bothered to steal those - they are so heavy!

i posted something on this stealing of manholes in britain some time ago - its getting worse as metals bring in record prices

So did he steal manholes? or did he steal manhole covers?

Manhole covers. Sorry -- I didn't make that clear. Thanks for clarifying it, René.

good stuff:

julianw, I like this story. It's good stuff.

150 manhole covers gone!!! wow why would someone steal that?

The key motive is salvage. Steel prices have soared and these things are made from pretty good steel. They are easily located, removed, and transported.

good stuff:

julianw, I like this story. It's good stuff. Boy imagine the fun to be left alone in a room with this guy for 10 minutes and no witnesses. Yep, Good Times!

Manhole in Tokyo is so heavy. So, I think it is difficult to steal a manhole in Japan. But I like this story.

/tsuzuking24 has contributed a photo to this story.

The theft of manhole covers has become a worldwide phenomenon, and a much under-reported one. While other news stories have covered the still on-going theft of automobile catalytic converters (mostly for their highly-treasured and highly-priced platinum), manhole covers would seem to provide a simple cash turnover for thieves from unscrupulous metal dealers.

I found it interesting that in most centers in Europe (such as in Istanbul where this photo was shot recently), manhole covers are 'hinged', and therefore unremovable without a great deal of exerted energy (and special tools) on behalf of the thief or thieves. A possible, if passable solution...?

smallscreen has contributed a photo to this story.

This photo is of a manhole cover in downtown Seattle, WA. Seattle has replaced some of its plain manhole covers with covers that are artistic. I was able to photograph three difference designs. This manhole cover is on 4th Street between Spring and University.

jillhw has contributed a photo to this story.

This is a manhole cover of mid-20th century vintage installed by the Western Union Telegraph Company in Columbus, OH.

Engineer Z has contributed a photo to this story.

I'd like to thank everyone who contributed a photo to this story.

This is a manhole cover located in Iraq (notice the Arabic script at the bottom).

...point&click has contributed a photo to this story.

manhole cover in miami, florida, spring 2008.

andreaskuhn has contributed a photo to this story.

This is a manhole cover in Prague--very much not stolen!

schmuela has contributed a photo to this story.

They do the same thing in Brazil, I have never seen that in US, I am shocked.

good stuff:

julianw, I like this story. It's good stuff.

It seems that there are iron mongers who are paying the theives for these man-hole covers, who should know better... are the police targeting the right people? If it were known that there's no way to sell the whole iron covers, and it's too difficult to melt them down domesticly, then there wouldn't be a market for them! It is surely just a matter of time until someone is seriously injured or even killed and then there will be manslaughter charges to face as well as theft.

observed in Boston Massachusetts, May 2008, a round iron manhole cover inset with glass "marbles." -- Jane Marie Cleveland

janeland has contributed a photo to this story.

It's an Oakville Hydro manhole cover in the sidewalk in front of the Hilton Fallsview Hotel in Niagara Falls. I first noticed it there after the road was rebuilt about five years ago.

darcywiley has contributed a photo to this story.

Thanks for adding my Danish manhole covers.

As an avid cyclist, I find the idea of missing manhole covers especially worrying. I also knew an elderly, visually impaired man who fell down an exposed manhole.

Making the covers ornate is great, but making them harder to remove is also important, and presumably cost-effective if the covers cost so much.

Japan has many decorative manhole covers. Most of them feature things the local area is famous for. This manhole cover was in Gifu City and it features cormorants. People still use cormorants to fish in the river in Gifu City, although now it is more of a tourist attraction rather than a food source.

robizumi has contributed a photo to this story.

Manhole cover in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, north-west Spain. Not sure how old it is but it took a good photo. It was directly opposite the police station so possibly not the best place to commit any potential theft.

garyinsouthend has contributed a photo to this story.

I just love small things like this that noone really looks at...that's all.

mctrent has contributed a photo to this story.

I wonder if the same thefts are happening in Eurpoe?

Wandering Emu has contributed a photo to this story.

This photo was taken in NYC in lower Manhattan.

gemjlo has contributed a photo to this story.