Perhaps the plot for the next Dortmunder novel?

It’s certainly strange enough:

A four-ton iron bridge

on an old rail line between Cheb and Stary Hroznatov in west Bohemia,

has been reported missing, police revealed Tuesday.

Police

spokesman Ladislav Boehm theorized that it took the thief at least two

months to cart off with the bridge, adding that these sections of the

railway bridge are most likely to turn up in scrap metal shops.

Boehm said investigations are still on-going.

This, however, was my favorite bit:

Martina Hruskova, a spokeswoman for the Czech police, commented to AFP:

‘We are not sure if it was taken for personal use or for its scrap

value.’ Exactly what that ‘personal use’ might be was left unsaid.

Uh, no kidding. And this has happened before, quite a number of times.