Thieves targeting manhole covers, grates in Gwinnett County

None — First it was copper wire, now iron manhole covers and road grates are the hot new commodity for scrap metal thieves.

In Gwinnett County, Channel 2's Diana Davis found out thieves have stolen hundreds so far this year.

The manhole covers and road grates are disappearing in broad daylight, county officials said.

Sometimes they are stolen right out the middle of the road.

"We've actually had almost two hundred lids stolen between storm water and sewer lids," said Peter Frank of Gwinnett County Water Resources.

Frank said the county pays about $63 for each manhole cover, but replacing the 200 stolen ones adds up to much more.

The cost is eventually picked up by taxpayers.

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"It's almost $7,500 dollars," Frank said. "That's just for the lid itself. Then you basically double that for the labor costs (for) the people to go out and do it."

Some of the manholes missing protective lids are 15 to 20 feet deep, which is enough to seriously hurt unsuspecting people or pets who might fall in.

"It's a safety issue," Gwinnett County police detective J.R. Flanagan said. "You drive down the road and there's an open hole in the road. A child could fall down the hole or a car might strike the hole and cause some serious damage or injury."

Gwinnett County's new metal theft task force is cracking down and checking scrap metal yards Flanagan said.

"We're working with the recycling centers in Gwinnett County and around metro Atlanta to be notified a little more adequately, a little more quickly, when suspicious items such as a manhole cover or copper or other items of value might turn up," Flanagan said.

Although replacing the stolen metal is costing the county, the police and water departments said the thieves end up with much more on the dollar.

"What I've heard, they typically get between $5 and $10," Frank said.

Gwinnett County police are asking everyone to keep their eyes open for thieves. They said actual crews working on manholes should have ID cards.

County officials said workers should also be in marked county vehicles or contractors trucks. If you see any suspicious people Gwinnett County police want you to call them at 770-513-5100.