HENRY COUNTY, Ga. (WXIA) -- It is an expensive and dangerous problem along metro Atlanta roadways. Over the last five years, thieves have stolen at least a half-million dollars worth of metal that is supposed to cover the storm drains along metro Atlanta roads.
On Wednesday, we learned about the drastic measures some areas are taking to stop it, and why those measures aren't used more often.
Along the Buford Highway Connector, crews have covered the holes left by stolen metal grates with orange signs. Sometimes, workers return to find the signs stolen. It is an expensive problem, and the solution is expensive as well.
On Arborview Drive in Henry County, it is a deep, dark problem. Thieves have stolen more than a dozen manhole covers – right around the corner from a worried Josh Hutton.
"I want my neighborhood safe," Hutton said. "I want my kids to be able to go out in the street without the worry of falling in a manhole."
Thieves who are hungry for metal they can sell to scrap yards have stolen more than $4,000 worth of manhole covers in Henry County in the past 12 months.
The county is now buying covers that lock in place, spending an extra $20 a pop.
"We had a situation where he had to go back and replace some of the same manhole covers more than once at that same location," said Henry County's Wade Stroud. "And that got very frustrating."
Thieves are stealing $100,000 worth of metal storm grates each year from interstates and state highways. The Georgia Department of Transportation is using locking devices on some of them. To do that statewide would cost millions.
"It's something we've found successful when we have that funding," Stroud said. "Our budget is already stretched."
After we notified Henry County about the missing covers on Arborview Drive, crews responded to replace them – with the locking kind.
The state DOT is replacing metal grates when they can afford it. It is money they'd rather spend on important road improvements.
