Sponsored by
It's the Leeds Great Drain Robbery!
THIEVES are stealing street manhole covers – costing Leeds council taxpayers thousands and putting pedestrians and drivers in danger.
Grid covers along the length of Pontefract Lane, near Temple Newsam, are the latest to have been swiped in recent weeks – leaving the road in a dangerous condition.
Thieves are selling the cast-iron grates and manhole covers to unscrupulous scrap metal dealers cashing in on soaring metal values.
The value of scrap metal rose to a record high in the last two weeks with dealers offering 250 per tonne.
Stan Whittaker, 60, owner of Morley Waste Traders, said: "I have been in this business since leaving school. There have always been thieves and unscrupulous dealers. There always will be. But with the value of scrap being so high it is more prevalent.
"The police come to my business just about every day to check what's coming in because it's getting so bad."
Mr Whittaker, a member of the British Metals Recycling Association, said genuine scrap dealers were also being targeted by thieves.
He added: "In the last few months I have lost 20,000 just through having skips stolen. I have nine businesses in West Yorkshire and the cost of extra security is costing me 3,000 a week.
"People seem to think all dealers must be cashing in but people who operate their business properly are also becoming victims."
Nationally, the soaring price of metal has led to a rise of more than 150 per cent in metal thefts.
Churches have also been hit with thieves stealing lead.
The growth is mainly being fuelled by demand from expanding markets in China and India.
Last week the YEP reported how the graveyard at St Mark's Church in Woodhouse was targeted by thieves who have been seen removing century-old grave stones and ornaments.
Rothwell resident Leon Parrish contacted the YEP after spotting the missing grates.
Traffic cones have been placed over the holes in the road to highlight the danger.
Mr Parrish said: "It's strange to think that the same grate could be melted down and remade to be put over a sewer in China. Either that or part of the new stadium at the Olympics."
A Leeds City Council spokesman said: "We occasionally have spates of thefts of street ironworks in different parts of the city. We believe the thieves sell the metal to unscrupulous dealers.
"If anyone sees suspicious activity, they should report it to the police."
A police spokesman said: "As with any theft, we would welcome reports from the public if they see suspicious activity or have any information to pass to us.
"People who notice missing grates or manhole covers should contact the Highways Department or the council, who will attend with replacements."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Saturday 11 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 2 C to 5 C
Wind Speed: 8 mph
Wind direction: North west
