Add Your Photos and Video to This Story

Stealing Manhole covers a hobby?

by jessica.lam | July 15, 2008 at 02:46 pm | 84 views | 1 comment

$20 worth of scrap metal can cost the city $200 in replacement fees? That's unthinkable. Then again stealing manhole covers are not your normal daily fare - only if you're not in Michigan.

Officials in Flint, Michigan, say they've had to replace hundreds of manhole covers and grates that were probably stolen and sold for scrap.

The Flint Journal reported Monday that nearly 400 cast iron covers and grates have been taken from streets in the past year.

A cover can fetch $20 from a scrap yard but can cost the city more than $200 to replace.

Officials in neighbouring Burton say they've lost about 200 covers and grates during the same period.

Utilities supervisor Mike Holzer says it leaves behind holes as deep as about 11 metres.

Genesee County officials say they've been able to reduce thefts of county-owned covers by outfitting them with a bolt that is turned by a wrench that only they have.