'Grate' Thief Busted with City Property

Stealing and attempting to sell city property turned out to be not such a great idea for a 31-year-old Clearwater man.

Police say Jonathan Ray Lee of 1418 Joel Lane was arrested Thursday on one count of grand theft and one count of dealing in stolen property after stealing storm grates owned by the city’s storm water department.

Lee stands accused of stealing a total of five grates and trying to sell them at a local recycler. The grates weigh about 100 pounds each and cost about $300 apiece. Made of cast iron, they’re worth about $9 at a recycler, police spokesman Rob Shaw wrote in an email to media.

It seems when Lee tried to sell the grates, the recycler asked him for proof of legal ownership. When he couldn’t produce it, he left, but returned a second time. The recycler tipped off police and Lee found himself heading to the Pinellas County Jail.

Shaw said the case can be chalked up to “’grate’ police work.”

Lee was being held in the Pinellas Jail in lieu of $12,000 bond Friday.

Photo Credit: Jonathan Lee/Pinellas County Jail