Following news of £110,800 worth of iron gully and drain covers being stolen from one town this year alone, an industry expert from designer, manufacturer and supplier of specialist products for the civil engineering industry, Wrekin Products, has spoken out about the importance of specifying more secure measures.
As a result of thefts in the West Midlands town of Walsall, 342 cast iron gully covers now need replacing after thieves swiped them to sell the metal onwards for profit. By prioritising the specification of more secure covers in the first place, this would likely have saved local authorities time and money in the long run — according to Gosia Kwapisz, Product Manager at Wrekin.
Gosia said: “These types of crimes cost local authorities and councils thousands of pounds in replacement materials and labour costs, so it is vitally important that secure cover solutions are always chosen where possible.
“Secure options make successful tampering much less likely, which is important when you consider thieves in Walsall were reportedly able to steal 28 coverings in a single day. Not only are covers costly to replace, but these thefts also present a health and safety threat to members of the public who could be at risk of injury should they trip or fall down any uncovered access points.”
Wrekin has advised that local authorities and councils should look for options with robust locking mechanisms for the best security.
Gosia added: “On all our coverings, we offer a locking or screw locking mechanism option to prevent unauthorised access and thefts. While the specialist engineering and technical knowledge required to provide protection can be complex, the value in protecting them from thieves and safeguarding the public is simple.
“342 is no small number and £110,800 is not negligible either. Although securer options may be slightly more expensive in the short-term, the savings become evident when they are not as easily stolen. We urge councils to learn from recent events and ensure that replacement covers are secured with the help of manufacturers.”
For more information on Wrekin Products, please visit www.wrekinproducts.com/
Header image shows Wrekin Products’ Unite Evolution in situ.
