Thieves Swipe Storm Grates In MWC - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

Midwest City Police are warning residents to be aware as they head out to trick or treat, because thieves have removed some storm grates from roadways around town.

The grates are made of steel and are very heavy. Each storm grate weighs about one hundred pounds, but that's not stopping crooks from lifting them off the streets.

The Midwest City public works department replaced four in the last two weeks and Director Vaughn Sullivan fears the city is on track to meet the same number of storm grate thefts stolen in one month last year.

Steel prices are up, and Sullivan believes that's why thieves are targeting the grates. And he put scrapyards on notice is warning residents to watch where they step.

At the scrapyard, thieves will only get about $4 or $5 for one grate, but it cost Midwest City $100 to replace each stolen grate. They are now welding MWC into the new grates.