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Written by: A. Smith
Published September 24, 2025 @ 11:02 AM ET
DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. – DeKalb County police have arrested a man in connection with the theft of manhole covers and storm drain grates across multiple counties.
Authorities said Kailan Whatley was taken into custody after investigators determined he stole more than 91 manhole covers from DeKalb County on at least five separate occasions.
“On September 16, 2025, investigators received a break in the case. A witness in Rockdale County obtained footage of two black males exiting a 2020 Nissan Kick and removing two manhole covers, placing them into the vehicle and driving away,” DeKalb police said in a news release Tuesday.
The stolen covers have left large, open holes in streets and neighborhoods, creating safety hazards for children, joggers, and pedestrians.
Officials in Rockdale County have reported similar thefts in several areas, including Lambeth Estates, Glen Meadow, and near Lake Rockaway Road.
Investigators said they were able to capture the vehicle’s tag number from the surveillance footage, identify its owner, and link him to the thefts. Police later stopped Whatley’s car during a traffic stop and arrested him.
DeKalb authorities also said there have been similar reports in Gwinnett County. Investigators from DeKalb are now collaborating with Rockdale and Gwinnett officials to help resolve comparable cases in their jurisdictions.