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23 Snow Plows Reported Missing From Glen Burnie Yard

GLENN BURNIE, Md. (WJZ)—It's the mystery of the 23 missing snow plows. Not the trucks, but the large blades that clear snow off the roads.

WJZ's Alex DeMetrick has more.

You might not give them a second's thought when the weather is warm, but this past June at the State Highways yard in Glenn Burnie, someone noticed 23 snow plow blades were missing.

Quite a vanishing act for something 10 feet long weighing a thousand pounds.

"It would take some type of machinery to lift and move it around. Likely it's something that happened after hours," said David Coyne, SHA Operations Director.

But State Highways will not say they were stolen, neither will state police. Apparently they have to be found to be stolen. Snow plows like these cost $3,000 each. A thief would not make that much fencing a plow, but selling them for scrap would bring money.

"We're working with scrap yards, pawn shops, things of that nature. As they come in, they're taking the identification of people selling them and see if that stuff is stolen," said Sgt. Marc Black, Maryland State Police.

Almost four months later, police say there's been no sign of the plows. State highways has also been investigating its employees.

"Missing plows is a very serious matter and we've taken steps, and what we've done is taken some personnel actions," said Coyne.

Snow plows might not be missed until you need them, but State Highways is not buying 23 replacements.

"We've transferred plows from other areas of the state to make Glenn Burnie whole, so we're totally ready for winter, both at our Glenn Burnie shop, without compromising our operations at any other shops through-out the state," Coyne said.

If the state had been forced to go out and buy 23 new snow plows, it would cost roughly $69,000.

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