YUMA — More than two dozen manhole and water-valve covers have been stolen from San Luis streets over the past month, and officials are concerned about the safety hazards posed by the gaping holes.
City officials believe thieves are swiping the covers to sell them for their metal value. The $71 billion scrap-metal industry has seen a boom in the past two years as demand for raw materials in China, India, Russia and other nations has grown.
Thieves can get $15 to $20 for one cover, San Luis spokeswoman Karin Meza said, adding that it costs the city $140 to replace manhole covers and $60 to replace water-valve covers.
Meza said thieves are targeting newer subdivisions with fewer residents, as well as rural roads with little to no street lighting.
The 26-inch-diameter covers protect vital underground sanitation infrastructure at depths of 5 to 25 feet.
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"It stands to reason an open manhole cover on a dark street at night is a dangerous situation," said John Starkey, director of the Department of Public Works. "And the toxic gas sewers carry has a potential to cause serious damage."
Once city workers are aware of a theft, they surround the holes with orange cones.
Other cities also have experienced thefts of manhole covers. Yuma police say they've had four covers stolen between May and June, costing $300 to $500 each to replace. In Long Beach, Calif., more than 50 have been stolen since Jan. 30.
In response to increasing thefts of recyclable metals, Arizona law was updated last year to require all scrap-metal dealers to keep a record of any transactions greater than $25, including the seller's driver's license number.
