BRUSSELS: Thefts of drain covers in a Belgian city have soared in recent days as skyrocketing metal prices have made them lucrative, officials said on Monday.
About 70 sewer lids, made from cast iron, have vanished since last Thursday in the southern city of Charleroi, an official at the town hall's construction department said.
"It's not the Glasgow-London train robbery of course but it poses serious threats to people and we take it seriously," said Philippe Goffaux, a Charleroi police chief.
Britain's 1963 "Great Train Robbery" saw a gang steal 2.6 million pounds ($4.96 million) from the Glasgow-London mail train.
A 40 kg sewer lid can be sold on the black market for roughly 6 euros ($7.7), Goffaux said.
"We put pressure on resellers of metals in the region and warned them they will be prosecuted if they are found with lid covers," Goffaux said.
