British Transport Police (BTP) is appealing for information after cable was stolen from the rail line in Bermondsey.
The incident, which was reported at 2.48am Tuesday, 6 September 2011, was attended by BTP officers alongside engineers from Network Rail, who established that approximately 30ft of cable had been cut and stolen.
Officers are currently making enquiries into the incident and would particularly like to speak to anyone who was in the area around the time of the incident.
The act of stealing, or attempting to steal, cable is extremely dangerous and anyone who has any information about the incident, or who saw any suspicious activity in the area has been urged to come forward.
BTP have a dedicated team of officers who work proactively with Network Rail and train operating companies to counteract the delays and discomfort passengers suffer when thieves target the essential resources that keep the trains running.
British Transport Police said 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’.
In July, two brothers were imprisoned for over 8 years for cable theft-related offences on the rail network, when a man they were with died whilst they ransacked a railway substation in Bromley.
The independent charity Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to £1,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any cable thieves.
Anyone with information can call British Transport Police on 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 37 of 6/09/2011. Or call the independent charity, Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
