Bold thieves steal bridge in North Beaver

[MNeagle]

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.

http://www.ellwoodcityledger.com/news/local_news/bold-thieves-steal-bridge-in-north-beaver/article_4a5ae43e-20df-5b6f-a732-9b33716e2b3b.html

[ximmy]

They took the valuable steel bridge and left a bunch or worthless silver ingots behind...

[sirgonzo420]

I can see these thieves walking into a scrapyard and saying:

"I got a bridge to sell ya...."

[MNeagle]

Now a couple questions/rant:

Why wouldn't the police name the 'owner' of the bridge? Do people have bridge insurance? Or is this an updated version of Jewish Lightning?

Rant: WHY is it so difficult to find a state for these online newspapers?? This isn't the first one I've come across, where you have to really scour the site to even figure out what state (or U.S.A.?) the article is originating from. GGGrrrr, irks me to no end & makes me doubt any article at all!

BTW, this OP was in Penn. USA. Bottom of banner. But sheesh!

[Gaillo]

A 50 foot long by 20 foot wide bridge... with a cutting torch, and the possibility of being discovered any moment?

BALLLLLZZYY! :o

[gunDriller]

They took the valuable steel bridge and left a bunch or worthless silver ingots behind...

10 cents a pound for steel these days. doesn't take long to add up.

though how they would market bridge pieces, when it's in the news, and it costs money to transport it to a scrap shop in a different state ... i'd like to see the thieves' Profit & Loss statement. ;)

[palani]

Sure looks like a shovel ready project.

[osoab]

10 cents a pound for steel these days. doesn't take long to add up.

though how they would market bridge pieces, when it's in the news, and it costs money to transport it to a scrap shop in a different state ... i'd like to see the thieves' Profit & Loss statement. ;)


Done by the construction firm that will handle the replacement?

[k-os]

Thieves stealing infrastructure . . . this is a bad sign.

MNeagle, I share your frustration regarding figuring out the state/country of a town mentioned in an article.

[Joe King]

10 cents a pound for steel these days. doesn't take long to add up.

though how they would market bridge pieces, when it's in the news, and it costs money to transport it to a scrap shop in a different state ... i'd like to see the thieves' Profit & Loss statement. ;)

That might just be possible seeing as how they caught them.
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/312865

Benjamin Arthur Jones, 24, and Alexander Williams Jones, 25, of New Castle, Pa., used a blowtorch to break up the bridge, police told The Associated Press. They sold their 15 1/2 ton haul of scrap metal to a recycler for $5,000.
An employee from the recycling company contacted the police after Alexander Jones showed him photos of the bridge on his cellphone, the AP reports.
The Jones brothers have been charged with criminal mischief, theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy, the AP reports.
Before Coverts Crossing Bridge vanished, residents claimed it was haunted by the ghosts of people who’d died in accidents on it, as described in a video produced by the Lawrence County Historical Society.


Here's some pics of the bridge. It was actually a fairly large bridge. They did a lot of work for to get that thing taken apart and hauled off.
http://bridgehunter.com/pa/lawrence/377214037270120/



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnIdMjTSi0Y&feature=player_embedded

[Serpo]

And this baby is next..............if the last one was worth 5000$ then here is 50000$ worth;D
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/california/images/s/california-golden-gate-bridge.jpg

[ximmy]

And this baby is next..............if the last one was worth 5000$ then here is 50000$ worth;D
http://www.destination360.com/north-america/us/california/images/s/california-golden-gate-bridge.jpg

Ahh, The Redden Gate Bridge!!

[Horn]

Ahh, The Redden Gate Bridge!!

Its whats on the other side, ximmy.

All that glitters is not Gold. :-X

[palani]

Hopefully you realize that any reputable contractor would have charged at least $50,000 to dismantle and remove that old bridge. And kept the salvage value to boot.

These guys ought to be rewarded.