Drain cover scrap metal thefts

[MargaretR]

On Friday night, sometime between 11 and 12, I heard the sound of a vehicle engine running outside on the road.
It is normally deathly quiet at nights where I live, so I looked out the window.

There was a white lorry parked with its engine running. I saw a man throw something square onto the back of the lorry - it landed with a very loud thud - then he drove off.

I often see lorries and tractors delivering stuff to the allotments, but not at night.
I only twigged what he was up to 2 hours later when reading the Observer online.

He had stolen a gutter drain cover.
Folk told to watch their step after manhole thefts - News - Accrington Observer

I rang the police at 1.30am to tell them what I had seen.
The lorry was the same sort that had towed away the caravan wreck that had been parked on the road for 4 months ---- 'travelling scum'.

[jaysay]

The Pickies will theive anything, but we have to remembr that they have to sell these things somewhere. There is no regard for anyone but themselves, I just hope that someone doesn't fall down the hole and seriously hurt themselves. I bet that that wasn't the only one to go missing in our area Margaret, but I haven't heard anything this morning

[lindsay ormerod]

The same bunch nicked one off our back last week !

[pipinfort]

Seems these days anything is up for grabs............these people nick owt..

[flashy]

its all in the weight of the metal isnt it, they are around here every few days asking for scrap metal

[katex]

How flippin' disgusting Margaret .. they'll be nicking water out the Hyndburn next !

Good job you didn't realise what they were up to .. can imagine you out there in yer' nightie giving them a piece of your mind ...

[MargaretR]

LOL - thanks for that Kate

I have been watching the gaping hole in the gutter today.
No car has run over it yet - but it could cause damage to car suspension and wheel if it did.
I am contemplating doing a temporary DIY job on it.
I have some old kitchen cupboard doors in my shed-type storeroom and there is an abandoned traffic cone in the woods at the back.
What is deterring me is the prospect of having to root about in a packed shed and then step gingerly in rough ground avoiding numerous dog terds to get the cone.
(May summon up the energy and courage before nightfall)

[accyman]

surely since the police have been informed this hole should have been dealt with long ago if only a few cones put around it

if i find my car going down one of these holes lancashire county council will be getting the bill

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by accyman

surely since the police have been informed this hole should have been dealt with long ago if only a few cones put around it

if i find my car going down one of these holes lancashire county council will be getting the bill

I don't expect the LCC to come out to it until Monday at the earliest.
The police did say that they would report it to LCC but they are not likely to get that notification until Monday.

Have decided on a DIY plan B -
I have found some pieces of scrap plywood in my kitchen storeroom (left over from when Hyndburn Homes boxed in my central heating pipes last year). A double layer over the hole should do it.

I have abandoned the idea of tiptoing through the dog turds because, now the grass has grown long I can't see the cone and can't recall precicely where I saw it. If I start wandering in the woods my neighbours will think I have developed dementia.

[MargaretR]

Plan B now actioned
and my neighbour has volunteered to search the woods for the cone.

[garinda]

Blimey.

Better learn to keep my gob shut, unless they come and nick my fillings.

[steeljack]

Originally Posted by [email protected]

Plan B now actioned
and my neighbour has volunteered to search the woods for the cone.

Hope your good deed doesn't result in you getting a summons from the council/police for interfering with the free flow of the sewer system

[jaysay]

Has anything been done about the situation Margaret

[panther]

I noticed a few grates missing nr where they are knocking the houses down nr dale street...etc

next someone will be making a claim for falling down the holes

[MargaretR]

Originally Posted by jaysay

Has anything been done about the situation Margaret

No - the plywood is still there
My neighbour hasn't found the cone, but the plywood isn't a 'trip hazard'