Thieves have apparently stolen scores of grates from Boksburg CBD.
One of the affected sites is at the corner of Leeuwpoort and Pretoria streets.
Business people in the area say the open hole is a danger to people walking along the road. They are also concerned that motorists pulling over could damage their vehicles.
A driver of a black Jetta told the Advertiser that his car almost ended up in the hole, while parking his car in Leeuwpoort Street.
According to an employee from a nearby shop, the grate went missing more than a month ago.
The grate was used to cover a drain that can drop about a metre below street level.
“I hope the municipality will just keep checking on the streets and solve this problem before someone really gets hurt,” says the employee.
Police say they don’t have an exact number on how many grates have been stolen, but it’s in the dozens since the beginning of the year.
“Though metal theft is not new in the area, the theft of grates and manhole covers from both private and public locations appears to be a new trend.
“A hefty number of grates and manhole covers have been stolen including a section of Leeuwpoort Street and Jubilee Road,” says police spokeswoman Lieut Mathanda Ngobese.
Police believe that thieves are selling the grates for scrap metal.
“Although we haven’t received any complaint from the municipality about the theft, such theft, whether on private or public property, creates a safety concern for the police.
People can’t drive down the streets safely. They may go over a manhole and ruin their cars or get injured,” says Ngobese.
According to Ngobese, police officers are on the lookout for thieves stealing manhole covers and drainage grates in the city.
“Thieves are more concerned about the cash at the scrapyards, but it’s the motorists that thieves are putting in danger.”
Anyone who witnesses someone pulling up or in possession of a grate, is encouraged to call the police immediately on 011 841 6845.
Ngobese encourages scrapmetal dealers to become part of the solution, not the problem, in combating such crimes.
“We always ask scrapmetal dealers to not accept suspected stolen goods, such as copper cables and grates. As part of our crime prevention operation, we regularly visit scrapyards and raid them,” says Ngobese.
No comment had been received from the metro at the time of going to press.
