Lives at risk over spate of drain cover thefts in city

Lives are being put at risk by thieves targeting drain covers in Peterborough, the city council has warned following a spate of offences.

More than 30 gully gratings have been stolen from the city’s roads since January – at a cost of more than £ 5,000 to replace.

Peterborough City Council officials has urged people to be on their guard in light of the recent spike in thefts.

A spokesperson said: “We are asking local people to report any missing gullies to us and also to be on the lookout for anyone stealing them.

“By stealing the gully gratings, thieves are putting people at serious risk. Pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists could be seriously injured or even killed if they fell into or rode over a missing manhole or drain cover.”

Following the report of a stolen grating, the council’s contractor Ringway Infrastructure Services attends the site as soon as possible to make it safe and in most cases will install an “EnviroGrate”- a dense plastic gully grate which has no scrap value.

These are durable enough to last until a permanent grating is put in place, which has so- called “captive hinges” preventing the new cover from simply being lifted out of the frame in future.

The authority’s call for vigilance has been backed by the Peterborough Motorcycle Action Group.

Joint representative Dave Hammond ( 53), from Westwood, said riders of lower-powered vehicles, such as scooters, could be at risk as they tend to keep their vehicles closer to the curb.

Hesaid: “If they catch their front wheel down one of those drains where the cover has been nicked or attempted to be nicked and left upright it’s a possible fatality waiting to happen.”

Anyone who sees a missing grating is asked to report it to the council’s contact centre on 01733 747474.

People who see anything suspicious are asked to contact Cambridgeshire Police by calling 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800555111.

Atemporary replacement cover in Allexton Gardens, Welland.