Mapping Manhole Theft in Fredericksburg

In the last few weeks, six manhole covers have been stolen in Fredericksburg. The by a city employee. On that day, five manholes were reported missing. Then, this past weekend,

In an interview conducted when the first five manhole covers were discovered missing, Natatia Bledsoe, public information officer for the Fredericksburg Police Department, said she's puzzled as to what exactly the theives plan to do with them.

"They can't take them anywhere local," said Bledsoe. "They are marked as Fredericksburg property."

Manhole covers are notoriously hard to steal and make a profit off of, according to They weigh between 75 and 100 pounds, forged out of cast iron and are designed to support the weight and force of passing vehicles. That, and scrap yards tend to be the last place you'd want to take. Fearing association with theivery, most scrap yards won't take manhole covers.