Middletown Township police are investigating the theft of storm grates.
In recent weeks, several storm grates and manhole covers have been stolen from properties around the township, police said.
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Forest Health Care on Middletown Boulevard reported on Monday that four cast-iron storm grates were stolen from their property sometime recently. The grates are valued at $1,600, police said.
A similar incident was reported at the Aldi Market Saturday morning. A $200 storm grate was reported stolen from the business’ parking lot, police said.
Other similar thefts have also been reported in Middletown in recent weeks.
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Police Chief Joesph Bartorilla said detectives are investigating whether two men arrested by Upper Merion authorities were connected to the Middletown thefts. Montgomery County police said the brothers – Brian Vetrulli, 36, and John Vetrulli Jr., 38, both of Gilbertsville – have so far admitted to stealing $500,0000 in grates from Abington, Bensalem, Broomall, Collegeville, Haverford, Limerick, Montgomeryville, Philadelphia and Willow Grove.
The brothers were arrested on West DeKalb Pike in Upper Merion Saturday and were found with a pry bar and receipts that show they sold more than 1,000 grates, police said.
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Storm grates sold a scrap metal only garner a few dollars, but the replacement cost is in the hundreds.
