By Alex Fees
St. Louis (KSDK) - City parks officials say over the past three weeks somebody has stolen about 45 metal trash cans from different locations in Forest Park.
About a dozen cans were stolen this past weekend.
"Actually there's a trash factor," said parks director Gary Bess. "When they take the cans they turn it upside down and dump the trash on the ground."
Bess speculates thieves are stealing the cans because they can get about $10 for the scrap metal contained in each can. Bess said St. Louis Police have been notified and scrap dealers have been put on notice. In many cases, the plastic bases beneath the trash cans were left behind.
Bess said, "The police are asking salvage dealers now and asking them if they receive any of these cans to notify the police department."
Bess says park officials put out about 1,000 cans or more during the summer months to accommodate increased traffic. He says the cost of going to all-plastic cans or alternatives that make the cans more difficult to steal is cost-prohibitive.
But Bess said parks officials are still hoping to get to the bottom of the trash can problem.
"And there might be a few surprises out there for people looking for the cans," he said. "You never know, do you?"
KSDK