Three men are scheduled to appear in court March 9 on theft charges associated with the alleged theft of dozens of sewer grates from locations in and around Joliet.

Robert L. Myers, 31, of the 14400 block of South Abbott Road in Homer Glen, Bradley J. Lewis, 30, of the 21000 block of South States Lane in Shorewood and David A. McClelland, 27, of the 100 block of Independence Avenue in Shorewood are charged with theft of items collectively valued at more than $500.

Police reportedly developed encough evidence during their investigation into the thefts to obtain legal authorization to place a GPS tracking device on a 1984 Dodge van suspected of being used to steal the grates.

Police curbed the van during a 12:15 p.m. Feb. 16 traffic stop at the intersection of West Acres Road and Springfield Avenue, and took the trio into custody after finding 16 grates in the vehicle.

During questioning, police learned one man would drive up to a sewer grate and stop. Another would exit, remove the grate and pass it to the third man inside the van.

A Romeoville scrap yard owner told police “Dave” and “Bob” had brought in approximately 200 sewer grates, weighing five tons, in the past month. Scrap yard employees reportedly identified McClelland and Myers in photo line-ups as “Dave” and “Bob.”

The grates were loaded into City of Joliet dump trucks, which took them to the Street Department’s yard.

Police said the three used the money from selling the grates to allegedly buy heroin.