Independent Newsmedia

Someone has been removing manhole covers from the streets of a community in El Mirage, according to police.

The El Mirage Police Department alerted residents on Monday, April 10 to be on the lookout for missing manhole covers and people tampering with them.

According to Assistant Chief Laura Liuzzo, someone has been removing the covers, throwing large rocks down the holes and then replacing the covers.

The incidents are occurring in the Rancho El Mirage community, located near Thunderbird and Dysart roads, south of Grand Avenue.

Public Works have discovered the rocks through routine maintenance and/or when blockages occur.

"So far no road hazards, but the large rocks are creating blockage issues and require labor to clear the storm drains," Assistant Chief Liuzzo stated in an email. "This has happened several times over the past year."

Contact El Mirage police at 623-500-3000 for any information on these incidents.