Local News

Back to Local News

Thieves stealing storm water grates at alarming rate

Posted: 6:11 PM Jul 24, 2012
Reporter: Kevin Lewis

Thieves stealing storm water grates at alarming rate

The Mishawaka Police Department is warning homeowners to remain vigilant as a select group of crooks pry cast iron storm grate lids from city streets and curbs.

City leaders tell NewsCenter 16, thieves have taken-off with nearly 20 of the heavy-duty grates in the last two months alone. Those thefts have taken place all across the Princess City, so far costing taxpayers $2452 in replacement fees.

"That's the ratepayer's dollar we're spending. Someone took what the ratepayers have paid for and now they have to pay for it again,” Mishawaka Sewer Department manager Tom Dolly said.

In January, criminals hit the Jamestown Homes along Hickory Road, near the Town & Country Shopping Center. The theft involved three heavy-metal drainage grates which left wide and dangerous gaps along neighborhood sidewalks. In total, the homeowner’s association shelled-out $2235 to make the necessary repairs.

In effort to “curb” a similar incident from unfolding in the future, management at the Jamestown Homes spent $25,000 in added lighting and surveillance equipment. That system was worth its weight in gold when criminals struck again last Monday at 5 a.m.

Unbeknownst to the pilferers, the newly installed security cameras captured their entire act. The four minute long color video shows an older model Chevrolet pick-up truck as it backs into a parking spot. Two thieves can then be seen prying at one of the recently replaced grates, which they later hoisted into the truck's cargo bed before driving away at 5:04 a.m.

“I look at that video and it just makes my blood boil. We work hard for what we have and then folks like this come and just take things like it’s theirs,” a property manager with Jamestown Homes told NewsCenter 16.

Management is now pressed with the decision to replace the grates for a third time or lay concrete with a culvert underneath for adequate irrigation flow. The latter of which is a costlier venture.

Although exact numbers are not on file, the Mishawaka Sewer Department estimates there are thousands of storm water grates strategically placed across the city. In the weeks since the rash in thefts first broke, city leaders have discussed the idea of locking or welding every grate shut. It has since concluded that venture would be too costly and time consuming. Not to mention, workers are often required to pull the grates off to make necessary repairs.

"They're all different shapes and sizes, so what you have on one corner is not necessarily going to fit on another corner. If you can't find that size, you're going to have to wait with a barrel or cone covering it for up to six weeks,” Dolly added.

City leaders believe criminals are selling the grates at area scrap yards. What’s most disappointing, city leaders say, while it costs $100 to $800 to replace a grate, scrappers are only being paid ten cents per pound. That means the average 50 lbs. cast iron storm water grate reaps a stingy $5 for a thief.

"The thieves may be thinking of the quick buck, but they're not thinking of the potential dangers with people getting hurt. Some of these holes are six feet deep. Taking a cover off like that for just a couple of bucks, I sure don't think it's worth it,” Dolly concluded.

NewsCenter 16 contacted the Mishawaka Police Department Monday evening to gather more information for this story. However for reasons unknown, a department spokesman has not made himself available for comment. If or when the department decides to talk about this sudden rash in crime, we’ll do our best to share their insight with you.