10.06.06
Cable thefts continue to rise
The number of copper thefts from rail lines has jumped yet again, meaning it has reached “epidemic proportions”, according to some analysts.
It is one of British Transport Police’s top priorities, second only to counter-terrorism, but despite the resources it and Network Rail are pouring into the fight against the thieves, the number of thefts jumped by 67% to 3,116 incidents in the year to April.
Across the UK there were 2,712 cable thefts in 2010/11 compared to 1,593 in 2009/10.
Metal prices keep rising, and both opportunist and organised thieves continue to target the railways.
Some depots have even changed working patterns to try to tackle the threat, which has cost Network Rail £43m in the last three years and caused to nearly a million minutes of delays.
Overall crime fell 2.9% in 2010/11, the seventh successive annual decrease, making the cable theft trend even more stark.
British Transport Police chief constable Andy Trotter said: “The continued reduction in crime is very good news, but economics is having its effect.
“We know that during difficult economic times acquisitive crime is likely to increase, and these figures show that.
“Cable theft is a real challenge for us, the rail industry and other utilities. The record price of metals on world markets has made this type of crime seem increasingly attractive, although the actual returns to the thieves are pretty modest.
“Metal theft causes significant disruption to rail services and that means real consequences for real people - missed business meetings, family celebrations and appointments for instance. And that’s not to mention the huge financial costs to the rail industry and the dangers to the thieves themselves.
“We have increased the resources we are devoting to this issue and are working closely with Network Rail to find more effective ways of reversing this trend.”
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