Theft of stormwater grates pose a serious hazard for vehicles, pedestrians, runners, children — everyone. Why state Department of Transportation and municipal officials in Butler County didn’t before now call attention to what is a serious problem is puzzling.

Up until Friday, only a couple of the many grate thefts reached the news — in general crime listings. Authorities gave no indication that the thefts were a serious problem that deserved more attention.

Because the public didn’t know, people weren’t inclined to pay attention to activity around storm grates.

But the bigger questions revolve around where the stolen grates have been taken or are being stored. Also, if the grates have been sold, why wasn’t there suspicion about their origin?

Perhaps the answers rest with scrap dealers — at least the less reputable scrap dealers.

“Any reputable scrap dealer, I think, would ask questions if someone pulled in with a truck full of sewer grates,” said Jeff Hartzell, an assistant maintenance manager for PennDOT.

Regardless, the silence over the past several months is troubling, considering the number of grates that have been stolen in Butler County — at least 22 PennDOT-owned grates missing in the past three weeks, 29 owned by Jefferson Township since Sept. 18, three on the first weekend of this month in Summit Township, and most of the others stolen from Clinton and Winfield townships.

Because of the weight of the grates — a couple hundred pounds — it’s most likely several thieves are involved.

Dan Hay, a township supervisor and the roadmaster in Summit, put the problem in the right perspective, saying, “People could get killed or total their car if they hit those things.”

The drop under the 2- by 4-foot grates oftentimes is dangerously deep.

Meanwhile, the cost to PennDOT and municipalities to replace grates is significant. Depending on the size of the grates, the cost for one could be between $230 and $400.

As officials lament having to spend the money to replace what they shouldn’t have to replace, they also should lament their disturbing secrecy surrounding the thefts that provided a window for the thieves to continue to operate without attracting notice.

A logical question is whether the thieves also might have some of those orange cones used at the site of highway projects — to make their work look official.

After a few thefts, officials should have acknowledged that this county had a serious, growing problem and asked the public to pay attention.

The eyes of police, PennDOT and municipal officials can’t be on every stormwater grate, but it might be helpful for hundreds or thousands of other eyes to be on the lookout for activity at the grate sites, hopefully serving as a deterrent to future thefts.

Officials erred big time in keeping the public in the dark about the problem for so long.

Considering the dangers posed by the thefts, when the thieves are caught, the courts should be tough.