RESIDENTS, developers and businesses have been victims of a rising number of thefts of water meters, according to Yarra Valley Water.
Almost 800 meters have been stolen in the past year, making Whittlesea the hardest hit area, according to the authority’s infrastructure services general manager David Snadden. The City of Hume was the next worst hit.
Mr Snadden said the authority had been slugged with an almost $160,000 bill to replace the metres.
He said the authority suspected the rising number of thefts was driven by the high price of brass and other metal in the meters.
“While thieves may only receive $2-$5 per metre for scrap metal, replacing a stolen meter and adjoining pipework can cost Yarra Valley Water [which owns the meters and pipes] over $200 including labour for installation,” Mr Snadden said. “More recently thefts are increasing in developed residential and industrial areas. It is predominantly occurring in new developments prior to customers occupying homes.”
Mr Snadden said the authority had encouraged developers and builders to fence properties being built and had introduced a trial of meter locks, while asking the public to report suspicious behaviour to police.
Whittlesea police Inspector Bob Dykstra said police had warned metal recyclers about the thefts.
Mr Dykstra said stolen meters could potentially be installed on a property to perhaps fill a pool and the water used would be billed to the victim of the theft. But water meter readers checked serial numbers of meters and stolen equipment would be noticed, he said.
