news-record.com

GREENSBORO - More than 70 cast iron manhole covers and storm grates have been stolen from Greensboro's streets and sidewalks in the past few weeks.

"It's not a random act. It's definitely deliberate," said Tim Elmore, the city's stormwater maintenance supervisor. "I'm almost positive they're being sold for scrap. We've contacted all the local scrap yards and recycling centers from Greensboro to Biscoe to watch out for these things."

Elmore said thieves are targeting the older style lids that cover open inlet drains on curbs - those weigh 70-80 pounds apiece - but some manhole covers on city streets and storm grates have also been stolen.

"They started off targeting the southeast part of town, and probably 98 percent of it has been in that part of town," Elmore said. "But they've started to branch out. Over the weekend they hit a subdivision in the western part of town, a place that's still under construction off Stanley Road. They hit the whole place and took 20 storm grates."

Elmore said the thieves are likely hiding the covers and grates in large loads of scrap to avoid detection when selling to the scrap yards.

So what do you do if you think someone is stealing a manhole cover? Call the police immediately, Elmore said.

"The thing is, it's pretty obvious if it's a city crew," Elmore said. "If you see anybody in a plain pickup truck, call the police. Even if you're not sure, call the police. I'd rather have somebody call and have a police car roll up on one of our trucks than not call and have us lose another cover."

Contact Jeff Mills at 373-7024 or jeff.mills@news-record.com