Rewrite this title RIDOT: Thieves stole brass shields, plaque from Washington Bridge

EAST PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Rhode Island Department of Transportation (RIDOT) is investigating after thieves stole the brass shields from the windows on the Washington Bridge.

The thieves have taken more than a dozen brass shields, as well as a memorial plaque, from the bridge over the past few days, according to RIDOT.

RIDOT said the memorial plaque honors the construction workers who died while building previous versions of the Washington Bridge.

This isn’t the first time the bridge has been vandalized. Back in January, thieves stole copper wiring from the bridge’s streetlights.

RIDOT said it’s unfortunate that the state has to continue spending taxpayer money on repairing the very structures their workers try hard to maintain.