There has been an increase recently in the number of incidents of theft and attempted theft of cable around Barrow and south Cumbria and BTP officers ‘want the thieves to know exactly what is going on’.
Detective Inspector Andrea Rainey said: “The majority of cable thieves see this as a low risk way of making some quick money. They steal the cable and sell it on to a metal recycler (scrap metal dealer) for a relatively low amount – all with the notion that what they are doing doesn’t really affect anyone. They couldn’t be more wrong.
“Far from being a victimless crime, cable theft is an attack on every person who uses the rail network and every business and organisation which relies on the railway to moves its goods or staff about the country – as well as the train operators themselves.”
When cable is stolen the railway often grinds to a halt as the vast majority of thieves target signalling cable – until this is repaired the railway cannot operate safely and so does not operate at all in the affected area.
DI Rainey added: “During the past three years there have been more than 16,000 hours of delay to the railway in the UK because of cable theft. That’s more than 660 full days in which people have been left stranded for various lengths of time at stations across the country and have been unable to make vital journeys.
“We have a good record in the north west in relation to cable theft, but we are not complacent and when issues arise we do not hesitate in dealing with them.”
BTP will now be stepping up patrols in the Barrow and south Cumbria area in a bid to deter thieves from further activity.
DI Rainey said: “We will use every legal tactic at our disposal to deter offenders where possible and detect them when necessary.
“The police and the wider criminal justice system are well aware of the impact cable theft has on communities and the country as a whole and thieves found guilty of cable offences can expect to face severe penalties – including lengthy prison sentences.
“My message to criminals is simple ‘Stay out of trouble; stay off the railway’.”
