Strippin' the Gears for Cash

By Jocelyn Geboy in News on May 10, 2006 2:28PM

Tuesday morning, the Chicago Department of Transportation discovered that some crafty thieves broke into the gears of a bridge at 24th and Halsted to strip away copper wiring. In an ironic name twist, spokesperson Brian Steele said that this was the first incident of its kind in many years. What Mr. Steele didn't mention was that scrap metal prices are currently at an all-time high. Bringing in the copper nets some Jacksons, not just pennies. But the vandals' (we're not sure stealing something counts as vandalism) scramble for cash will not entirely affect the bridge's ability to lift, thus ensuring the richy mcrichersons can get their yachts and sailboats to the harbors (hopefully *you* have one as a friend). Whew. That was a close one.