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Steel price rises lead to thefts of manhole covers in five counties
10:47 26 May 2004
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The hike in steel prices has led to a new crime trend: the theft of
manhole covers.
Five counties have been struck by the problem: Aberdeenshire; Cambridgeshire; Gloucestershire; Lincolnshire; and Norfolk. In Aberdeenshire, a total of 130 covers have gone missing.
Peter Evans, sales and marketing director of metal security product supplier Strataform, said the steep rise in steel prices and the subsequent upshot in the value of scrap metal are among the reasons that access cover theft is on the up.
He urged local councils and utilities to review and upgrade the security of their covers. "The estimated cost [of the Aberdeenshire incident] was at least £13,000, but the time, trouble and inconvenience of replacement is arguably more substantial.
"As a basic deterrent, modern, fabricated steel covers, unlike old iron, offer the security of recess padlocks, which are virtually impossible to get at."
Five counties have been struck by the problem: Aberdeenshire; Cambridgeshire; Gloucestershire; Lincolnshire; and Norfolk. In Aberdeenshire, a total of 130 covers have gone missing.
Peter Evans, sales and marketing director of metal security product supplier Strataform, said the steep rise in steel prices and the subsequent upshot in the value of scrap metal are among the reasons that access cover theft is on the up.
He urged local councils and utilities to review and upgrade the security of their covers. "The estimated cost [of the Aberdeenshire incident] was at least £13,000, but the time, trouble and inconvenience of replacement is arguably more substantial.
"As a basic deterrent, modern, fabricated steel covers, unlike old iron, offer the security of recess padlocks, which are virtually impossible to get at."
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