'Great Drain Robbery' as hundreds of metal drain covers are stolen

Britain is in the grip of a drain theft crisis with hundreds of cast iron covers being stolen from towns and cities to be sold for scrap.

On Monday a four-year-old narrowly avoided serious harm after almost falling down an exposed drainage hole in Basildon, Essex.

More than 160 street drain covers were stolen from one town alone in the space of just four days earlier this month.

Thieves snatched the covers, which can weigh more than 113 kg each, off streets in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.

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The drain covers, which are usually made of cast iron, can be sold at scrap metal merchants for around £20 a piece.

Mark Houlbrook, of Doncaster Council, said that such thefts can cause “serious harm and injury to drivers, pedestrians, children and cyclists".

He added: “Incidents like these can also end up costing the taxpayer thousands as we have to ensure each gully is safe, as well as paying for replacement covers."

The 160 drainage covers were stolen from the streets in Thorne, Barnby Dun, Edenthorpe and Moorends, South Yorkshire between 14 and 17 January, police said.

The thefts follow a similar trend around the UK, where crooks have carted off drain covers, particularly targeted rural communities.

Thieves struck in the villages of Jubilee Bridge, Cropthorne, Wyre and Piddle in Worcester just before Christmas and made off with 200 drain covers.

And in February 2021, at least 50 drain covers were taken in a raid around the streets of York, which the council branded a “shocking and incredibly dangerous act of vandalism”.

Police and Highways teams across the country are now appealing for the public to help catch thieves operating in their area.

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Inspector Alison Carr, from South Yorkshire Police’s Doncaster East Neighbourhood Team, said: “The theft of gully covers is a serious issue that can cause real problems within local communities.

“Unfortunately, reports of gully cover thefts are on the rise, and whilst there have been reports of these offences across the town, nearly two thirds of these thefts have taken place in Doncaster East.

“We are currently pursuing a number of lines of enquiry and investigations are very much ongoing to locate those carrying out these thefts."

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