Düsseldorf (dpa / lnw) – Metal thieves lifted almost 30 manhole covers from the streets in Düsseldorf and took them with them. With a lot of luck, no pedestrian or car fell into one of the open gully holes. The cast-iron lid weighs up to 105 kilograms, the city announced on Thursday. Crime scenes were mainly small side streets in the south of the city.
They’re only worth a few euros to metal thieves, but the damage to the city is in the tens of thousands. The new covers for the holes in the streets have now been ordered, but first have to be made and adjusted. The city announced that this would cost around 430 euros per piece. Above all, however, it will take some time before all manhole covers have been reinstalled. Until then, the holes would have to be secured with beacons.
The police are now hoping for information from witnesses. The perpetrators are being investigated for, among other things, dangerous interventions in road traffic.
