Timetable stolen from bus stop - police baffled

On Wednesday morning, the passengers standing at the bus stop on Kunoweiher were shocked to discover that someone had removed the timetable from the frame attached to the post. Police were called immediately to the scene to inspect the area and take notes. 

At the first press conference, Insp. Waldemar Bauer-Töpel said, "We are looking at some good leads at the moment. Our main focus is on a couple of female suspects seen kissing a driver, getting out of a car and accepting some money at about 6.05 on Wednesday morning." 

This was unfortunately later proven to be two schoolgirls saying goodbye to their father who was on his way to work. (cont...)

The bus stop

At a second press conference later in the day, Insp. Bauer-Töpel announced he had put together a crack team of forensic experts from three different police districts who were going to comb the area for clues, but none had so far been found. (cont...)

The alleged theft of the timetable has left locals shocked

The person who raised the alarm, local man Hartmut Landei, told the press: "Without the timetable there, we cannot be sure the bus really will come at the time it previously did. We therefore ask the bus company to replace the timetable with the correct hours as soon as possible. People use this bus stop for their daily commute." 

This reporter asked him who they were.

"There's me, and when his car's in for repair, there's Thomas Dörfling, and on Thursdays Frau Nussbaum on her way to her Salsa class in Trier. It starts at 2 in the afternoon, but there are no other buses afterwards, so she has a drink at the café in Trier station until it's time."

And other passengers? 

"There are several others on there from further out of town, but I don't know who they are." 

This reporter asked him about the frequency of the buses. 

"There's one at 6.40 am to the station, and one at 7.40 am too." 

We asked him if he knew the other times. 

"No, that's it," he replied, "and there are buses back at 16.37 and 17.37. They're emptier, because most people don't get back from work until after 6. They charter Saarburg's only taxi driver to meet them at the railway station at 6.40, once the trains from Trier and Saarbrücken and the bus from Luxembourg have arrived and he drives them home. It's a nightmare if there are more than 4, as he has to make two runs!"

We tried to speak to the bus company about the missing timetable. They were confident they could put another one up within 5 days, once the print shop has delivered it. They were getting two made, in case this happens again.

It was noted by this reporter that it was easier to get by bus from Saarburg to Luxembourg (a foreign city) and back, than to Hermeskeil, Losheim, Orscholz and Perl, all towns closer to Saarburg than Luxembourg, and in the same country.

UPDATE  (19.30)

Police have closed the bus stop off as a crime scene, and no traffic will be permitted to stop within a 20-metre radius of it until the case is solved. Buses have been suspended from this stop.