Scrap thieves creating ‘death traps’
THE worldwide surge in thefts to make money from scrap metal appears to have hit Wellington’s stormwater drain covers.
Thieves have stolen more than 30 of the heavy stormwater drain grates from Island Bay, Brooklyn and Seatoun in the past week.
The Wellington City Council is warning that the thefts have created potential death traps – a warning that comes just two months after Peter Black, 43, of Johnsonville, drowned outside Te Papa when he fell head first into a car park drain after lifting a grate in an attempt to retrieve his keys.
Council infrastructure director Stavros Michael said yesterday: ‘‘They leave holes into which a small child could easily fall and drown – or cause death or serious injury for any cyclist who has the misfortune to ride into one of the open sumps.
‘‘If a car drops a wheel into one of the open sumps, then the damage could be severe.’’
A staff member from Porirua scrap metal dealer Ingot Metals called police to report details of a person looking to sell seven cast-iron drain covers.
‘‘We think this is a sign that the global scourge of metal theft is starting to take root in New Zealand,’’ Mr Michael said.
‘‘People
think
they’ll
make
easy
Ingot Metals supervisor Natalie Bognuda with some of the grates thieves tried to sell to the Porirua company. money out of thieving things like drain covers. But we urge would-be thieves to think twice before getting involved – the returns are paltry compared to the possible punishment.’’
He urged people to call the council as soon as possible if they noticed a drain cover missing – or call police if they saw people drains.
‘‘If someone’s lugging drain covers around in a Wellington street and they don’t appear to have a vehicle bearing city council, Capacity, Transfield or Downer logos, then they’re probably not legit. Try to get their rego at least.’’
acting
suspiciously
around