The Callaway County Sheriff's Department is investigating recent thefts of about a dozen metal farm gates in southern Callaway County.
"We presume the thefts may be for the purpose of selling scrap metal but we don't know that for a fact," Callaway County Sheriff Dennis Crane said Monday.
Crane said one farm owner in an area along County Road 448 near the Callaway Energy Center reported during the weekend he had six metal farm gates stolen and several other farmers in the area also had metal farm gates stolen.
Farmers reported the Callaway Energy Center wildlife area supervised by the Missouri Conservation Department also had metal gates missing leading to the area.
Crane said he attended a meeting in Mokane on Saturday and learned of more thefts of metal farm gates.
As the price of metal goes up, metal thieves become more active throughout the county.
Law enforcement officers want scrap metal dealers to be aware of the thefts of metal farm gates.