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| CITY WORKERS USED CONES UNTIL GRATES COULD BE REPLACED |
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| MISSING GRATES ON LEMITAR WAY |
Jefferson Park Neighborhood Hit
Hard By Growing Citywide Trend
Hard By Growing Citywide Trend
BY BRANDY TUZON BOYD
THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz
Thieves made off with more than a dozen storm drain covers from a Natomas neighborhood last night giving rise to a growing – and expensive – trend citywide.
City officials are stumped by the theft of more than 100 storm drain grates from Sacramento streets in recent days.
“We’re not entirely sure why these are being taken,” said Jessica Hess, spokesperson for the city’s Department of Utilities.
Cast iron used to manufacture the grates is only valued at $4 per ton. But replacing the grates – the bulk of which have been stolen from the city’s north-area – has proven costly.
“Each storm drain grate costs the city about $63 to replace, not including labor,” Hess said. “If we have to do further repair to the drain, it can cost up to $3,000.”
As of Monday, more than 100 grates had been reported stolen. In the past two weeks, Hess said, an average of 15 grates are being taken nearly every night.
“This is so discouraging because the city just can’t afford this,” Natomas resident Denise Bopp said.
Bopp was walking near Jefferson School Park at about 8:30 a.m. this morning when a neighbor alerted her to the theft of several storm grates nearby. Together, the two used boards to cover four storm drain openings and replaced a grate removed only part way. City workers came and placed traffic cones over the openings until the covers were replaced Thursday afternoon.
The tight community near the park has a Neighborhood Watch and one witness reportedly saw an old pickup truck with a bed full of junk. Police said they have no solid leads to date.
“This is a recent phenomenon,” said police spokesperson Sgt. Norm Leong.
Hess added the city continues to have issues with thefts of higher-value copper from pump stations as well as park, street and traffic lights. So far this year it has cost the Utilities Department more than $100,000 for repairs and replacement copper.
“These are not victimless crimes,” said Hess. “Not only are they costing our ratepayers, but when thieves take the wiring from pump stations, it can impact the ability to pump waste water and drainage away from homes and business. The missing storm drain grates can lead to debris getting into the storm drainage system, which during a rain event could bring increased street flooding.”
Police and city officials are asking residents and businesses to be on the lookout for suspicious activity and report it immediately. City workers wear a city-issued identification badges and drive vehicles with the city’s seal on the side and typically only work at facilities during the day.
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| MISSING GRATES ON ROMA COURT AND CLOUDVIEW DRIVE |
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| VIVIAN McSWAIN INSPECTS A STORM DRAIN |
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