Pennsylvania state police Thursday were investigating the theft of two large metal drainage grates from a rural Salisbury Township intersection.

The grates, each weighing 150 pounds, were removed from the corner of Wanner and King roads between midnight at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, police said. Each measuring about 2 feet by 4 feet, the grates sat on concrete bases along the shoulders of the roads.

Township supervisor Lester Houck said a local resident informed him of the theft Wednesday after seeing some men in the area loading items into the bed a pickup truck. Houck notified state police at the Ephrata barracks.

Houck said grates were stolen about a month ago from the same location. He said he believes they are being sold for scrap.

"It seems to be a fairly popular thing to be doing right now," he said. "I guess that's the hobby right now — selling scrap."

Wednesday's metal theft is part of a rash of similar crimes across the county involving thieves stealing metal for scrap.

Two weeks ago, police arrested three Lititz residents who showed up at Mar-Allen Concrete Products in West Hempfield Township with a truck full of metal.

Houck said he is always amazed at the lengths people will go to to steal something that will garner them a relatively small amount of money. He said scrap metal sells for about 10 cents a pound, making the grates worth $15 apiece.

Houck said many of the thieves use blowtorches to cut the metal to disguise its original form.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call state police at 721-7667.

E-mail: myoder@lnpnews.com