You’ll Be Shocked By What Illinois Thieves Are Out Stealing Now

When addicts get desperate they will revert to stealing just about anything, from sliding under your vehicle and sawing off your catalytic converter to shoplifting dozens of boxes of Tide laundry detergent.

READ MORE: Why Every Illinois Resident Should Ask Santa for a Catalytic Converter

If the item is easy to take and can be traded for drugs or quickly sold for cash, there's likely someone out there is trying to steal it.

3 Other Weird Things Thieves Will Try to Steal

According to 24/7 Wall St, some odd items that are apparently popular with criminals include pregnancy tests, sap for making maple syrup, and Nutella?!

In Germany, around 11,000 pounds of Nutella, valued roughly at $20,000, was lifted from a parked cargo truck last year. Around the same time, a Nutella-related crisis emerged at Columbia University. After students successfully petitioned to have Nutella offered in the cafeteria, they proceeded to steal it at unsustainable rates — about 100 pounds a day.

Now there's another target for thieves in Illinois, and it's something that can be found on every street in every city across the Land of Lincoln.

Thefts Could Be Dangerous for Motorists and Pedestrians in Illinois

According to the ABC-TV affiliate in Chicago, a warning has been issued by Chicago Police regarding stolen manhole covers around the area of Midway Airport.

Weighing more than 300 pounds in some instances, the manhole cover is typically made of iron, but also contains copper which is coveted among thieves due to the high price that's more than doubled in 14 years, according to 24/7 Wall St.

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Police say the first manhole was stolen on August 25 in the 2700 block of West 55th Street, then another one was taken on the same block on Tuesday (10/31).

A couple of weeks ago another manhole disappeared about eight streets away in the 5200 block of West 63rd Street.

How Much Can Thieves Get for a Manhole Cover?

According to the New York Times, some of these manhole covers can weigh as much as 300 pounds and catch up to $30 a piece from scrap metal dealers.

Besides the danger to drivers and pedestrians when the manhole covers are missing, replacing one costs the utility company $200.