Forty grates stolen in two weeks

Unscrupulous dealers pay up to £125 per tonne for scrap iron

Up to £15,000 worth of drain covers have been stolen from roads in north-west London in less than two weeks.

Harrow Council said the thefts, which began this month, have taken place in Pinner and South Harrow.

The council said more than 40 cast iron gully grates had been stolen and some of the missing covers dated back to the time the roads were built.

The iron covers weigh 50kg each and are thought to have been targeted by scrap iron thieves, the council said.

'Selfish crime'

Councillor Susan Hall, from environment services, said: "These thieves are currently stealing gully grates faster than we can replace them.

"Their selfish crime means that we have to cone off the areas affected and then cause extra disturbance when we replace them."

The council said two men have been reportedly seen hauling off drain covers in in the areas.

Two full-time crews have been brought in to replace the stolen covers and it is costing the council £450 to replace each grate.

The new covers will be fitted under the frame to make it difficult for thieves to steal them, the council said.

Unscrupulous dealers pay up to £125 per tonne for scrap iron, it said.