A “grate” mystery continues to deepen after a rash of metal grate thefts across Vancouver.
Police say they have no leads and no explanation, and city officials are flummoxed.
“Typically, we’ve only had about a half-dozen locations, and they would be very isolated, related to grad events or kids playing with the grates. But nothing substantial like this,” says Murray Steer, Sewer Operations Manager for the City of Vancouver.
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47 grates were missing as of last week when the thefts were first noticed, now there’s more than 80 missing.
The scrap metal value of a grate is about $4.00 and they weigh about 60 pounds.
Police are concerned that a pedestrian or someone on a bicycle, especially a child, could fall into the holes where the stolen grates once were.
The holes have been covered up with pieces of wood, because the city has to backorder the grates from China at a price of $176 each.
So far the city has spent $14,000 to replace the stolen grates.
Two months ago, there was a rash of yard gates stolen across Vancouver, some of which were uncovered at a scrap metal business in Strathcona. Yard gates are worth $400-$500.
Police suspect a vehicle may be involved because the grates are heavy and difficult to transport.
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