ATLANTA — People in the Ashview Heights neighborhood in southwest Atlanta are looking for missing covers to their water meters.
Residents said someone has stolen more than a dozen water meter covers, leaving gaping holes in the sidewalks.
Shamone Collins, a resident, said she noticed covers missing weeks ago.
"Fix that problem, and that's not fair," Collins said.
Collins said she believes the person behind the theft is selling the covers as scrap metal.
Channel 2's Audrey Washington saw some of the meters with missing covers on Parsons Street on Wednesday.
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Some of the residents said the neighborhood is in transition, with some remodeled homes and abandoned homes, so they believe squatters are removing the covers so they can turn the water on in some of the vacant houses in the Ashview Heights neighborhood.
Resident Betty Boarders is concerned about the gaping holes in the sidewalks and said they are an accident waiting to happen.
"If your foot got caught in this space, what would you do?" Boarders said. "I hadn’t noticed it and, if there were kids playing out here, they could hurt themselves or if you’re not paying attention and you’re walking, and people come through this neighborhood all the time, but if you’re not paying attention, that’s an injury."
Boarders also said that, unless the city steps in, the problem will only get worse.
"There must be big money in this because people are stealing them all over the place," Boarders said.
Washington called the city of Atlanta about the issue. A city spokesperson said officials are aware of the issue and that a crew will come out to replace the water meter covers.
Cox Media Group
