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DANVILLE, Va. (AP) _ Police in Danville are investigating the theft of more than $15,000 worth of manhole covers that were stolen from various parts of the city. Nearly 50 manhole covers have gone missing, including more than 30 covers that were taken from one area alone.

Police say those responsible are going into remote areas and taking the manhole covers and the support rings that are around the covers. Investigators believe the robbers are using heavy equipment such as a tractor or a backhoe and stealing the manhole covers for scrap metal.