Fire hydrants communicate how much water they can flow to firefighters by color coding applied to their caps. An orange cap indicates a flow rater of between 500 and 999 gallons per minute. March 4, 2024; Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA.
© Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK
(Los Angeles, CA) – An odd new criminal trend is underway in Los Angeles County. Thieves are cutting away fire hydrants, hauling them off, and selling the metal for scrap.
Cops say nearly 100 fire hydrants have been taken this year to date. The bulk of them (85) were taken from unincorporated communities, while just over a dozen (14) were stolen in Lynwood. Apparently most of the stolen fire hydrants have been sold at metal recycling yards. Now, some communities are responding. South LA’s Golden State Water company has installed locked shields that cover the fire hydrant’s bolts. The hope is that will make them harder to steal.
