Three arrested over railway cable thefts (From Evesham Journal)
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Three arrested over railway cable thefts
3:10pm Monday 13th February 2012 in News By Freya Leng
THREE suspected railway cable thieves were arrested on Sunday in connection with two separate incidents near Blockley and in Honeybourne.
Two men from Birmingham, aged 18 and 24, were arrested on suspicion of attempting to steal cable from the rail network in Paxford, near Blockley.
Police were called after Network Rail staff reported a loss of signalling shortly before 10pm.
On the same day a 43-year-old man from Stratford was arrested in Honeybourne on suspicion of cable theft after security staff in the area reported suspicious activity at about 5.45pm.
The arrested men were helping police with their inquiries on Monday, while forensic officers searched their home addresses and the locations where the alleged offences took place.
Detective Inspector Andy Irwin- Porter, of British Transport Police, said: “We are continuing to work closely with Network Rail and local police forces to tackle cable theft from the rail network. We also work closely with scrap yard owners to monitor any cable which is brought in and, with assistance from railway and telecoms experts, we can identify if any of that cable has been taken from the rail network.
“Stealing cable is also an extremely dangerous act which is costly to the rail industry and to the many thousands of passengers who rely on the rail network across the Vale and Cotswolds.”
Patrick Hallgate, route managing director at Network Rail Western, said cable theft was costing the rail industry nearly £20 million a year.
He said: “It’s a huge issue and one which all affected industries are committed to tackling – but we can’t do it alone. We need to see tougher sentences for cable thieves and the police must be given powers to shut down any rogue scrap dealers who are found to be profiting from the travelling public’s misery.”
Anyone with information about cable theft should call British Transport Police on 0800 405040
