Ellwood City Ledger, Ellwood City, PA.

Bold thieves steal bridge in North Beaver

By Eric Poole
Thursday, October 6, 2011 12:15 am
Updated: 9:20 am, Thu Oct 6, 2011.

Bold thieves steal bridge in North Beaver

NORTH BEAVER TWP. — As the value of scrap metal — including copper and steel — increases, thieves have been becoming more daring and less respectful of institutions such as churches and schools.

But one group of thieves might have set the standard last week by stealing a 50-foot-long bridge. State police said the bridge was stolen between Sept. 27 and Wednesday in North Beaver Township. The theft was discovered shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday.

The bridge, around 20 feet wide, was in a wooded area along a railroad line in the township’s Covert’s Crossing region.

A release by state police did not include the name of the bridge’s owner, and trooper Darren Vizyak, the investigating officer, was not available for comment Wednesday afternoon.

Township Supervisor Paul Henry said the bridge was not owned by the municipality and was not to have been used as a township road span.

The bridge was made out of corrugated steel and valued at approximately $100,000. Police said the thief or thieves used a cutting torch to dismantle the bridge where it sat.

State police ask that anyone with information on the bridge theft call them at (724) 598-2211.

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