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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Appliances are have gone missing in the city of bridges. 

Fact Finder spoke with director of health inspections Jody Gates as to what this means for the city.  Ottumwa has a contract for appliances to be picked up and dropped off at the recycling center.  However, some residents have reported vehicles taking washers, dryers and others off of the curbs. 

The loss in revenue could cost the city $30,000 to $40,000.

“Our appliance count, from at this point in time from the same time last year, were down about four to five thousand appliances,” said Gates.  “We know that they're being taken.  We don't know where they are being taken to.”

Not disposing of appliances properly could impact the environment too.

"We don't know what's happening to those hazardous materials inside appliances when they're being taken off the curb.  We have no idea if the materials are being removed, where they are being sent for disposal.  They could just be ending up in the landfill.  They could be ending up along the side of the road.”

Because this breaks city code, law enforcement will be called in.

“We're getting the police department involved and asking them to respond and actually arrest folks."