[MSN] bronze plaque that contained a historic route map of the Illinois Central Railroad has been stolen from the McComb City Railroad Depot Museum.

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McComb railroad museum plaque stolen
The Associated Press 

McCOMB - A bronze plaque that contained a historic route map of the Illinois
Central Railroad has been stolen from the McComb City Railroad Depot Museum
and officials are hoping they get it back.

The theft was discovered on Dec. 28. Police have asked the public for help
in finding it.
  
"It's a piece of the city's history," said museum board member Bob
Bellipanni. 

Bellipanni's grandfather, Jake Bellipanni Sr., served as a conductor for the
rail system.

Affixed to a piece of granite that weighs about 450 pounds, the plaque is
10-1/4 inches in diameter and was given to McComb in 1951.

"It looks like they had a crowbar and popped it out of the rock," Bellipanni
said.
A circular plaque that documented the 100th anniversary of the railroad also
was mounted to the granite. It was not damaged.

"It doesn't appear that they messed with the other side at all. It really
(doesn't) make sense," Bellipanni said.

When the city initially received the monument, Bellipanni said they didn't
have a place to put it because of its size. So officials decided to display
it near McComb High School. About two years ago, the monument was moved to
the railroad museum and placed by the train display.

Since the theft, the monument has been moved again. Now it's housed inside
the depot, which is locked at night.

Bellipanni said the depot has been the target of vandalism in the past, but
nothing of this magnitude. He said vandals have previously spray-painted the
engine and boxcar. And last year, windows were smashed out of the train
wrecker.

"I have no idea what was on their minds," Bellipanni said. "Why would
anybody take something that had significant value to the city of McComb and
its people?" 

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