British Transport Police (BTP) is appealing for information after an attack on the East Coast Main Line caused over £80,000 worth of damages to the rail network.
Officers are investigating after cable was cut and taken from the line close to Bradford Road, Wrenthorpe, in the early hours of Friday, 5 August.
Detective Sergeant Granville Sellers of Operation Leopard – BTP’s dedicated cable and metal theft team – said how the incident caused substantial delays affecting a total of 108 trains.
DS Sellers said: “Cuts were made to the line and 55 metres of signalling cable was taken at around 2.45am. Officers attended and discovered cable had been removed. Some of the cable was later discovered burned and dumped close to Fox Lane.
“In total it is estimated to have cost the rail industry £82,000 in repair costs and compensation to train operating companies who use that stretch of track.”
DS Sellers added: “This sort of attack causes serious disruption to train services and the travelling public. The act of stealing cable is an extremely dangerous crime which is costly to the rail industry and to the thousands of passengers who rely on the rail network.
“I am now appealing for anyone who witnessed anything suspicious in the area, or who has any information regarding this incident, to contact us.”
Richard Lungmuss, route director for Network Rail, said:
“This was the worst of three thefts on the London North Eastern route overnight Thursday into Friday and will have affected hundreds of passengers.
“The disruption and cost both to the rail industry and the wider economy are simply unacceptable. In this case nearly 17 hours worth of delay to services was suffered by those trying to use services early on Friday morning.
“I apologise to passengers and to freight customers who were disrupted by this crime. We are doing all we can to protect the railway and will continue to support British Transport Police in order to find those responsible and bring them to justice.
“I would ask anyone with information about the thieves to contact police or Crimestoppers and help us to keep your railway running.”
Chief Inspector Derek O’Mara said additional measures were already being put in place in the area to tackle cable crime.
“Officers frequently carry out directed day and night patrols in hot spot locations to catch and deter cable thieves from the area. We also link closely with West Yorkshire Police to gather intelligence on suspects,” said CI O’Mara.
“Officers also conduct regular visits to scrap metal dealers to check any cable which may have been sold by the thieves for profit. What they don’t realise is just how little they make. Is it worth risking your life accessing the rail line for £50 in your pocket?
“These operations follow on from a targeted leaflet campaign to local residents in Wakefield to highlight the effects of cable theft and warning of the dangers and likely punishment for stealing cable.
“Metal theft causes significant disruption to rail services and that means real consequences for real people – missed business meetings, family celebrations and important appointments for instance. And that’s not to mention the huge financial costs to the rail industry and the dangers to the thieves themselves.
Anyone with any information about cable theft should contact British Transport Police or Crimestoppers, where they can report the crime anonymously and could receive up to £1,000 reward if their information leads to a conviction.
Contact British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40, quoting background reference B9/NEA of 10/08/2011 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
