Fort Worth Copper Thieves Targeting Manhole Covers

FORT WORTH (CBSDFW.COM) – First, thieves targeted copper found in streetlights. Now, it appears they have shifted their sites toward manhole covers and water grates, selling the metal for cash.

Fort Worth city leaders say they're seeing an alarming number of these types of thefts. A crime, they say, is not only costly, but is also a safety hazard.

Manhole covers and water gates are as common in downtown Fort Worth as the buildings that line the streets. They're permanent fixtures on the roads and sidewalks, virtually disregarded, except for when they're missing.

"It's at a level right now where there's obviously something going on and we need to get a message out there for people to start watching out for this," city spokesman Jason Lamers said.

Just last week, city crews found a missing grate on a sidewalk off North Main Street in downtown, Lamers said.

"The city is already in a bad budget time and this isn't helping at all," Lamers said.

The city has already shelled out $35,000 this year to replace the missing metal.

"Just stop," Fort Worth resident Cathie Devenney said. "We need the money for the schools, and police need to cover real issues - they don't need to waste their time with manhole cover calls."

Resident Miguel Casso mirrored the city's safety concern, and said he thought the thefts could affect the roads.

"Manholes - that's stealing in my eyes," Casso said. 'It scares me, actually. You can see I have five of my six kids with me - so, if I'm driving down the road it can actually cause a lot of accidents -so it's not frustration, more of a liability."

A liability and expense the city wants to avoid.

You may get a few bucks off of this - but it's going to be a lot more costly if you get caught," Lamers said. "We're watching, the police department is watching and we're asking the community to watch as well."

Lamers says central Fort Worth has been hit hard with the thefts, but other parts of the city have also been targeted.

City officials are also working with area scrap metal yards, looking for anyone who brings in grates or manholes.

To report missing manholes or grates, call the Fort Worth Public Works Department at: 817.392.8100.