'Great Drain Robber': San Francisco neighborhood plagued by repeated sewer cover thefts at night

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- Residents in San Francisco's Bernal Heights neighborhood say a thief has been stealing sewer drain covers in the middle of the night, leaving homeowners concerned about safety and replacement costs.

Jessica Lipnack said she reviewed footage from her Ring camera and watched a person quickly remove the covers.

"I could see the guy going along. And 15 seconds next one, 15 seconds. It took him no time at all. He was complete professional," Lipnack said.

Residents whose drain covers remain in place say they are checking them regularly.

"Every morning I come in and check to see mine is still around and luckily we've been spared," said Manny Ureno.

Doris Ruiz Hidalgo said she captured video of the presumed thief approaching her sewer drain, pausing and then walking away after noticing a Ring camera pointed toward him. She said a neighbor's sewer vent was gone the next morning.

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"For somebody to continually do it and then hit every house on the whole hill, what's going on? Who's buying them? How much are they selling them for, or is it just somebody's collection?" Ruiz Hidalgo said.

Residents say replacing vent covers can cost about $20. After repeated thefts, some homeowners have improvised temporary solutions, including placing upside-down cones over openings and using plastic container lids weighed down with rocks to warn of potential hazards.

"I'm concerned about myself. I'm concerned about falling. Other people could trip," said resident Sheila Smith.

If someone is injured because of a missing sewer drain cover, responsibility falls to the homeowner.

San Francisco Public Works inspectors are walking through the neighborhood and, when they find a missing grate, are issuing 30-day notices requiring homeowners to replace them.

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Rachel Gordon, a spokesperson for San Francisco Public Works, said property owners are responsible for maintaining the covers.

"Under both city and state law, the fronting property owner is responsible for the maintenance and care of their sidewalk, and these event covers are the ones that go to the lateral sewer, which is the property owner sewer," Gordon said. "We want to work with people about it. We don't want to be punitive with people, but we do want to make sure that the hazard is abated. But we don't want people to get hurt in the public right of way."

Multiple residents said they have filed police reports, but the thefts continue. Via email, the San Francisco Police Department said, "No arrest has been made."

As the investigation continues, residents say they are remaining vigilant and have even given the suspect a nickname.

"We don't know who the person is and what he's doing, but he is the Great Drain Robber," said Peter Wiley.

For now, neighbors say they are keeping a close watch on their sewer drain covers while awaiting developments in the case.