Sewer Grate Thefts on the Rise in Medford

Medford has seen a recent uptick in thefts of road-side catch basin grates, according to city officials.

A total of 16 have been stolen in the last two months in all parts of the city, public works Commissioner John Buckley said in a phone interview Tuesday.

"They're very heavy and difficult to move," Buckley said. "It has to be a two man job."

The grates can weigh over 100 pounds and officials believe they're being brought to junk yards and sold as scrap metal. Replacing a grate costs the city about $170, Buckley said.

Public works considered welding them down, but that would create difficulties in flooding or when they need to be cleaned, Buckley said.

He said he would like the city to install security cameras that could potentially catch license plates or vehicle details of suspects, though it wouldn't prevent thefts.

"We haven’t found anything that’s 100 percent fool-proof," Buckley said.

The thefts, along with another incident where a suspect tried to scale the fence of the water and sewer yard, have been reported the Medford Police who are investigating, Buckley said.

In a meeting last week, city councilor Michael Marks said he had been told that at least three dozen of the grates have been stolen in all, including two recent thefts on Commercial Street.

"Apparently people are stealing them and scrapping them for the iron they are worth,” Marks said. "I think this is organized."

Councilor Paul Camuso said the culprits are in essence stealing from the taxpayers.

"This is not only a public safety issue, taxpayers have paid for these things and they’re missing," Camuso said.

Camuso suggested the city brand the grates to try to deter theives, who likely take the grates to yards in nearby cities, he said.

"They certainly aren’t selling these to the pawn shops or the second hand shops in our community,” Camuso said. "They’re probably going to Chelsea.”