Ladislav Boehm, a police spokeswoman, said the bridge, from a unused rail line between Cheb and the town of Stary Hroznatov, was stolen at the end of 2007 or in early 2008, Czech news agency CTK reported Thursday.

Boehm said damage to the rail line is estimated at about $1,100. She said the iron was likely sold to a scrap metal shop.