Spate of manhole thefts in city

Version 0 of 1.

Almost 30 gratings and manhole covers have been taken from roads in Londonderry over the last three weeks.

Twenty covers and nine gully lifts have been stolen from industrial estates in Pennyburn and Springtown on the Cityside.

It is believed they are being stolen for scrap metal.

Austin Montgomery from the DRD Roads Service warned that removing manhole covers is a danger to motorists and pedestrians.

"The manhole covers themselves will weigh possibly as much as 40 to 50kg," he said.

"They are designed to stay in place even with road traffic, so it does take considerable effort to remove these things.

"As far as the road gulley gratings are concerned, they have to be physically dug out of the road."