With the scrap metal business paying well, thieves are cashing in on the trend.

The latest target for local steel-starved criminals: manhole covers.

Akron officials say about 70 of the covers have been stolen from streets since January, costing the city thousands of dollars and raising safety concerns.

``If someone was to fall in (an uncovered manhole), the person could be seriously hurt,'' said Jim Hewitt, the city's sewer maintenance superintendent. ``We have manholes that are in excess of 20 feet deep.''

So far, no one has been injured from driving or falling into a hole, but the potential for accidents worries city officials. They're also concerned about flooding or other water system problems that could arise if an uncovered manhole is struck.

The thieves are stealing the 138-pound sewer manhole covers as well as storm-water inlet covers and grates. The thefts have occurred as recently as the last few days.

``It's been random throughout the city, which has made it difficult for us to keep up,'' Hewitt said.

City workers have rushed to replace the stolen covers whenever they hear of an incident.

One manhole cover can cost $100 or more. Providing replacements has forced the city to spend $8,000 -- just last week-- to reorder more.

``We've pretty much exhausted our stock of our material to replace the covers,'' Hewitt said.

The thefts come at a time when steel prices are up. Other communities, both internationally and as close as Columbus and the Dayton area, have faced problems with manhole cover pilfering.

Locally, police and scrap steel business owners say it's no coincidence that the covers are being stolen at a time when steel is more profitable -- selling for about 5 cents a pound.

``In the scheme of things, it's pretty close to an all-time high,'' said Randy Katz, one of the owners of City Scrap & Salvage Co. on Wilbeth Road in Kenmore. ``It's definitely higher than it has been.... Two years ago, it was at a penny and a half a pound.''

But even with the higher price, turning a profit from manhole covers would fall into the heavy-lifting category.

``A manhole cover may take in $10 apiece,'' Katz said, ``so it's a whole lot of work for $10.

``It's an unfortunate situation, but with steel prices going up, people are looking to get money wherever they possibly can.''

Akron city spokesman Mark Williamson said city officials are asking local scrap yards to stay on the lookout for the stolen covers. Katz said he has not noticed any of the covers landing in his scrap heaps.

Police Lt. Ken Ball said the department did not know about the manhole cover thefts until city employees alerted officers. But detectives in the crimes against property unit were aware of other metal scrapping crimes, namely thefts of pipe from vacant houses.

``We have had a spike lately in home break-ins where people are taking the piping,'' Ball said. ``We've also had some industrial businesses targeted for their metal.''

Officers have been able to catch some of the past metal thieves, he added. Police will investigate the manhole incidents.

Hewitt said the city does not have a total amount of damage figured, but it's significant.

``The way the economy is and the tight budgets, we need this to end so we can focus our money and time on more important things,'' he said.

To report a missing manhole cover, call the Akron sewer maintenance division at 330-375-2666 or just dial 311.

To report information about missing manhole covers, call Akron police at 330-375-2181.