| High steel prices have led to an increase
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| | selfish profiteering at the expense of
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| in manhole and drain cover theft across
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| | safety and waste of tax payers
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| the UK. In fact, metals in general are
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| | contributions, we should take a look at
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| high on the priority list for thieves
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| | this problem on a global scale. We are
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| with white vans and scrap metal
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| | not alone. This is common practice in
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| establishments of ill repute. It is not
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| | some countries. Surprisingly it is very
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| unknown for large blue motorway signs to
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| | common and a big problem in China.
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| mysteriously vanish overnight.
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| | In Beijing, China's capital city, they
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| Large sewer grate covers and heavy drain
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| | are testing a new kind of manhole cover
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| covers are lucrative money spinners for
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| | to try and stop the prolific theft of
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| those prepared to take the risk. Sold for
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| | manhole covers on pavements and roads
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| a fraction of their replacement cost
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| | around the city. Inventors in Beijing are
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| there is still a tidy profit to be made
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| | currently trying to make manhole covers
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| in this trade. A quick check on google
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| | of non-metal materials so that they are
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| reveals that the problem is not exclusive
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| | no longer a temptation for theives. This
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| to the West Midlands. Similar experience
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| | is a huge problem in China where the
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| in Aberdeenshire, Cambridgeshire,
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| | covers are sold as scrap for a few
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| Gloucestershire, Lincolnshire and Norfolk
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| | dollars but replacements cost over a
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| have been widely publicised.
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| | hundred dollars each. Incredibly Beijing
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| Councils are being urged to consider
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| | has more than 600,000 manhole covers and
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| upgrading their security measures and to
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| | during 2004 the city lost around 240,000
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| investigate the possible replacement of
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| | manhole and drain covers to thieves.
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| some high risk covers with more secure
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| | On a smaller scale but equally lucrative
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| and harder to remove products. More
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| | are British Road Signs. Go to Ebay and
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| modern covers offer recessed locks which
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| | type in 'road sign' in the search
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| are almost impossible to remove.
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| | facility. Hundreds of road signs are on
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| Councils are united in their condemnation
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| | offer, many of them are copies but look
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| of this new trend of mindless and
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| | closely and you could pick up a genuine
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| irresponsible theft. Their concerns,
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| | and original bargain such as the Trafford
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| apart from the inconvenience and cost of
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| | Road sign with current bidding at £30
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| replacement, are the fact that these
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| | and the reserve not yet met. A closer
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| drains are left exposed and likely to be
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| | look reveals traffic cones, village signs
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| a serious safety hazard to pedestrians
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| | and other icons of Britain that can be
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| and motorists. Imagine a motorcycle
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| | found up and down the country and which
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| travelling at speed and hitting a hole in
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| | are often ignored by all but the
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| the road or a small child or elderly
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| | dedicated ebay entrepreneur who wanders
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| person falling into a hole in the ground.
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| | around at night with his screwdriver and
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| Before we condemn the UK criminal for
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| | crowbar finding items of worth to
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| this thoughtless and inconsiderate act of
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| | advertise on ebay.
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