-->Bridge stealing finds its way to New Zealand


23.12.04 4.00pm


Otago crooks have taken up one of the year's most bizarre international fads -- bridge stealing.

Bridges were stolen in Bosnia and Poland in August this year, apparently by thieves looking to sell scrap metal.

Now Otago conservation officers and police have their own structural dismantling case to crack, and hope someone spots a stack of aluminium panels in the district.

Thieves stole most of the 30m bridge in the coastal Waihola-Waipori wetlands reserve southwest of Dunedin, probably for scrap aluminium, Department of Conservation officer Bill Wheeler said.

The thieves took the aluminium base-plates, side cladding, and one entire section of framework.

Mr Wheeler said DOC could probably claim some insurance,"but I'd much rather have the bridge back".

"If it was left in the corner of a paddock somewhere we'd be happy to go and pick it up," he told National Radio today....

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