Friends of the Rail Forum

Cable theft 'second only to terrorism'

The theft of signal cables alongside main lines has become "the second biggest challenge to the British Transport Police after terrorism".

BTP Chief Constable Ian Johnston made the worrying statement as the price of copper and steel reached an all-time high, forcing thieves to target not only Network Rail but heritage railways as well.

NR estimates that cable thefts cost it more than £4 million a year in replacement and train delay terms and that the thefts have increased 150 per cent in the last year alone. Untli recently, the North-East has been the worst-hit area but organised gangs are now spreading their net wider.

Exacerbating the situation is the willingness of many scrap merchants to pay cash for the metal, even though they suspect it to be stolen. This aspect of the problem was highlighted by a TV documentary in January.

From The Railway Magazine, March 2008, p6.

BTP arrest cable thieves through DNA profiling

The use of DNA evidence when investigating the theft of copper signalling cables has resulted in British Transport Police making two arrests.

On January 18, the BTP arrested an 18-year-old man from the Brighouse area in connection with cable thefts in June 2007.

In a separate case, a 36-year-old man from Worksop has been arrested in connection with the theft of copper earthing straps from freight trains in Worksop sidings.

In both cases, DNA samples obtained frmo the scene were compared with the national DNA database and recent resultant 'hits' enabled the offenders to be identified and arrested.

The BTP has also been training rail staff to ensure they are forensically aware when attending a crime scene or discovering stolen cables.

Some 40 employees of Network Rail have been given a three-day course by the police force to equip them with basic skills to assist in preserving evidence and aiding prosecutions.

Over the Christmas and New Year period, there were three incidents involving the theft of copper signalling cables in the Pye Bridge area of Derbyshire, which have led Network Rail to offer a reward of £10,000 for information leading to arrest and conviction.

The Pye Bridge area was targeted by thieves on December 20, 22 and January 5, causing major delays to passenger and freight services.

Repairs, delay compensation and staff costs have cost an estimated £180,000.

Newtork Rail, Cross Country and East Midlands Trains held a joint press briefing on January 15 to raise awareness of the problems caused by the thefts.

Two men from Rotherham have been sentenced to two months' imprisonment for stealing 50 yards of cable on December 3, 2007.

From The Railway Magazine, March 2008, p80