Drain cover theft is on the rise as thieves search for more common and less traceable scrap metals. Smaller communities in the North have seen hundreds of such drain cover thefts. These crimes are now coming to urban streets, increasing the dangers and costs to the public.
Flood of Drain Cover Thefts
Why would anyone steal drain covers, given that each one weighs over 110 kilograms? The value of iron and lack of security around gullies is fuelling the surge in drain cover theft.
Cash exchanged for scrap cast iron is nearly untraceable. Metal recyclers pay up to £20 per cast iron cover, with no questions asked.
The price of a replacement cover far exceeds its scrap value. The cost to taxpayers can be up to a hundred times what is paid to these criminals.
In addition to financial implications, replacing drain covers presents logistical challenges for small local councils. Councils must also organize work contracts and find funding for emergency reinstallations.
Beyond theft, removing the covers creates a danger to public safety. Without covers, the access holes are hazards to vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians. Children are especially at risk, and there are many reports of close calls with exposed gullies.
Raids on drain covers are becoming more sophisticated, with offenders placing road cones and warning signs as they work. Thieves also wear reflective jackets to deceive the public into thinking they are official workers.
Drain cover thefts tend to occur in smaller rural areas with fewer security cameras and less frequent traffic. The acts are so brazen and frequent that South Yorkshire police have created a special task force to deter and apprehend drain cover looters. Recent thefts in Yorkshire resulted in the removal of over 160 drain covers for scrap, while in Worcester, more than 200 covers were stolen. Although these thefts are most common in Yorkshire, the crime is spreading south to counties such as Essex.
The Hole in the Taxpayer’s Pocket: Prevention and Recovery
Councils and local law enforcement are looking into ways to prevent theft and recover stolen covers. Many options exist, but practical and safety issues must be considered along with the security of the covers.
Drain cover protection and repossession plans include: –
Welding
Bolts
Bolts are easier to install and remove than a weld, though there is still the added cost of modifying the drain cover. With close to 8 million maintenance hole covers in the UK, the sheer number presents utility companies with the challenge of installing bolts in every cover.
Bolts are still a realistic solution if used at random locations, since most drain cover thieves will not expect to need a specific tool to remove the bolt.
Surveillance
Thefts are now occurring in and around major cities where cameras often point at the drain covers. However, a thief only needs to wear a hoodie or mask to obscure the camera image.
As the cost of tracking devices drops, they have become a more viable solution. GPS trackers can help reclaim stolen covers and find those who stole them. Road workers can place GPS locators on random drain covers to make it harder for thieves to select a non-bugged cover.
Crime Fighting Recyclers
Industrial recycling facilities receive immense quantities of scrap metal, some of which is valuable. Scrap dealers are less concerned with low-value metals such as cast iron. For this reason, cast iron is becoming a favourite choice to steal since dealers are unlikely to question its origins.
Though many recyclers ask for paperwork, some centres still accept scrap on the word of the delivery driver. There are reports of thieves claiming to work for utility companies contracted to replace the covers. Police are visiting scrap centres to educate staff on certifying the source of scrap and identifying sellers.
Alternatives to Traditional Cast Iron Drain Covers
Lockable
- Lockable drain covers require workers to use a specific tool or key to release the cover. Though more complex, the savings from theft prevention more than pay for the quick installation of the lock into an existing drain cover.
Plastic
- Many types of metal covers have intrinsic value, giving thieves a reason to steal and sell them. Plastic gully covers are another solution since this material has no value to scrap dealerships and is much cheaper to replace.
Fibreglass
- Fibreglass, like plastic, has little to no trade-in value for recyclers, removing the incentive for thieves. These covers can also be lockable to further deter anyone from removing them to check for value.
- A fibreglass cover can weigh 80 percent less but have the same strength as a traditional cast iron cover, making it easier for workers to handle. Fiberglass does not corrode, unlike iron, where the rust can fuse the cover to the gully.
- Composite drain covers have better resistance to rapid changes in heat and pressure, are stronger, and provide a better seal.
- These covers come in a range of colours, so they can be manufactured for better visibility for drivers.
