Thieves have long been stealing manhole covers to sell as scrap metal, but now the problem is spreading. The latest targets of people out to make a quick buck are the big brass nuts on top of fire hydrants. Those can fetch as much as ten bucks from a scrap metal dealer.
The thefts are becoming a major safety concern for local jurisdictions. In one disturbing case, a house in California burned to the ground because even though the fire department arrived quickly, firefighters were unable to access the nearby hydrants.
But there is a long-term concern as well. If thieves continue to steal the nuts from hydrants, then they'll become sterile and unable to reproduce. In a few years, the only fire hydrants will be the ones in zoos. That may be great for the animals that already live there, but what about the rest of us?
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 thoughtful ramblings:
Post a Comment