Durham Replaces Stolen Storm Drains

Seventy-seven new grates were delivered Friday and were planned to be installed Monday, city officials said.

City officials are asking for the public's help in tracking down the thieves, who may have stolen the grates for scrap metal.

“Residents need to also remember that city vehicle are white and marked with both the city’s logo and the department or division name, so if they see a plain white vehicles with no city markings, don’t assume its city employees doing work on that storm drain," said Katie Kalb, director of the city Department of Public Works.

The grates weigh about 200 pounds each and measure either 2 feet by 3 feet or 15 inches by 63 inches, Kalb said.

Maintenance workers have placed makeshift covers over and traffic cones around the exposed holes until permanent covers can be installed, she said.