SANTA CLARA (BCN) — Santa Clara police are asking residents to be on the lookout for thieves stealing water meters and backflow regulators in the city.
The city has seen more than a dozen such thefts recently and police believe the thieves are selling the items for scrap metal.
The city is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the people responsible for the thefts, according to police.
The suspects steal water meters by removing the cover, shutting off the water valve and using a pipe cutter to cut off the meters, police said.
Police, who did not provide locations and dates for the thefts, estimate the suspects have cost the city over $40,000 in loss.
Anyone who observes people tampering with a water meter or back-flow valve is advised to call 911 immediately.