Metal thieves put lives at risk

3:00pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

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THIEVES are continuing to take advantage of the high price of scrap metal – putting lives at risk.

Over the last 12 months, 160 drain covers have been stolen in the York area, while 177 have gone from roads across North Yorkshire in the last few months.

In York, council officers say a replacement manhole cover will cost about £150, meaning the tax payer has to stump up an extra £24,000 a year.

North Yorkshire County Council says replacing its manhole covers costs £300 each, meaning that criminals’ activities are costing county tax payers in excess of £50,000. Thieves are particularly prolific in the Selby area.

Both councils are appealing for anyone who knows anything about the thefts to contact the police.

Fred Isles, City of York Council’s maintenance manager, said: “We’re appealing to local residents to contact the council or the police if they see any suspicious activity. The gulley grates cost in the region of £150 each to replace and it has cost the council a considerable amount of money to replace all the items that have been stolen in the last few months.”

But there is more at stake than the financial consequences, according to county councillor John Fort, executive member for business and environmental services at the county council.

He said: “These thefts are potentially deadly. If the theft is not reported to us it could lead to cyclists and motorcyclists being thrown from their machines, or a car overturning. Some of the grates have been removed from roads where there is a 60mph limit.

“While we are naturally concerned about the replacement cost of the drain covers, we are much more worried about the potential threat to the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and all other road users.”

County council figures show that in recent months there have been 60 such thefts in the Selby area, with Whitby and Craven coming in joint second place with 30 incidents each.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said officers regularly checked scrapyards to make sure owners of such premises were complying with the law.

He added: “Stealing drain covers doesn’t just waste local resources, but it could also cost someone their life. Children could easily fall down uncovered drains and holes in the road are a particular danger to motorcyclists.

“Anyone with information about the thefts should telephone North Yorkshire Police on 0845 6060247 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”