What's up with the 400 missing manhole covers in Flint Michigan ?

Question

Is there a "chop-shop" for manhole covers now ? Could they actually be melting them down? Or what ?And how did it get to be that many, before somebody finally realized what's going on?

Answer 1

They are scrapping them, but what i dont understand is what kind of scrapyard would take one of those? I mean i take aluminum cans and scrap metal into our local scrapyards here every now and then and they are picky about what you bring in and question it if it looks suspicious. In other words if you bring in enough aluminum siding for a entire house they are gonna ask for your ID and take a record of it. I cant imagine trying to pass off a manhole cover to them, the place i go to would call the cops in a minute.

Answer 2

We have the same problem here in the UK.  Not only are manhole (or should that say person hole!) covers being pinched, but also the lead flashing from roofs, lightening conductors, drain grids, and basically any other metal that these thieving scum can get their hands on, is disappearing on a daily basis.  The number of church and school roofs that have been vandalised is astronomical.  We have the same laws here about stolen metal and scrap dealers, but sadly not everyone is as honest as the next person...

OH...I just remembered that the thieves are also risking their lives by stealing copper cables from alongside railway tracks...shame they don't get hit by a train!

Answer 3

I read that there is big money to be made in scrap metal because of demand in China & India  so thats probably where your manhole covers have gone,in Jamaica dealing in scrap metal has been banned as theft of some metals is affecting the infrastructure of the country