Thieves targeting Houston's sewer grates

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- With her three little kids in tow, Alma Flores is eager to tell you that the safety of her kids is a top concern. However, open drain grates were not top of mind, until now.

"I live around the corner (in the Heights) and the kids like to play on the curb." Remarked Flores. "It's sort of like Murphy's Law, they'll find a way to get hurt or something."

Children safety, car safety, and a clogged drainage system are among the top reasons the city of Houston is tackling this problem. Officials say people looking for a quick buck steal these city-owned grates and sell them to scrap metal yards. Often, they only get $10 or $15 for each grate. However, the cost to taxpayers to replace them is much more.

"People try to pass them to us all the time but we just don't want them in our yard," said C&D Scrap Metal owner Dennis Laviage. "They don't belong to those people and we certainly don't want it."

Laviage says not every scrap yard follows city code. Some dealers willingly take stolen grates. That means taxpayers are left with a costly and dangerous repair. To try and stem the problem, City Council on Wednesday authorized half a million dollar contract over the next four years to pay for a special locking system for grates and manhole covers.

"It actually can provide a danger in heavy rain conditions where children and animals can get swept into the sewer system," remarked Mayor Annise Parker, who is in support of the contract.

She is hoping the locks will save city crews time from costly replacements, and prevent cars and children from getting hurt when drain grates are stolen.