Thieves target Australian bridges

By Phil Mercer
BBC, Sydney

Thieves in northern Australia have stolen nearly a dozen disused, cast iron bridges from a historic railway line.

In the latest theft, a 20m (65feet) bridge was removed near the town of Howard Springs, south of Darwin.

Police in the Northern Territory have admitted that they have few clues to go on.

The police have said the crimes were brazen and well-organised.

The theft of a single bridge would normally be enough to raise a few eyebrows but the disappearance of 11 has caused much concern in the Northern Territory.

Near the township of Howard Springs a gang used industrial cutting equipment to slice the bridge from its foundations. A large crane was then used to put it onto a lorry, and that is about as much as detectives have been able to establish.

It is thought that the stolen bridges may have been sold for scrap or even as holders for giant water tanks found on many outback farms.

Historical value

The bridges were built in the 1890s, mainly by Chinese workers as part of the old North Australian railway which linked Darwin with nearby gold mining towns.

In World War II it was used to take troops and supplies to the tropics to fight the Japanese in New Guinea.

The line closed down in 1976.

Many locals are not impressed at the pilfering of their heritage. One said that a rich part of the Northern Territory's history had vanished.