Copper theft a policing priority

A spokesperson for the British Transport Police (BTP) said that copper theft is the force’s “second policing priority after terrorism”.

It follows 113 arrests in a Europe-wide crackdown on copper cable theft. Sixty three thousand kilograms of stolen copper, worth £144,000, was recovered and more than 2,500 depots checked during the day of action.

The operation was coordinated by RAILPOL, the international network of European railway police forces and organisations. Nine countries took part including Austria, Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovakia and Spain.

In Britain, the BTP made 11 arrests and recovered 25 tonnes of stolen cable valued at £99,000. Visits were made to 55 scrap dealers and 50 vehicles were stopped. Whilst BTP recovered the most copper, Spanish police made the most arrests with 92.

“The results show how important it is to work together and initiate railway police operations across national borders. We know that stolen metal is transported across many national borders to other countries. This makes international cooperation among Europe’s railway police urgently necessary,” said Pietro Milone of Italy’s Servizio Polizia Ferroviaria.

“Railway signaling cable is sold to scrap dealers for profit. There is an international demand for copper following its continued increase in price,” a BTP spokesperson told Police Professional.

She said it is a “very lucrative business for criminals” and affects a number of businesses and private homes.

“Copper piping is being stolen from houses around the country, which has resulted in explosions putting peoples’ lives at risk. Churches are also a target for copper thieves,” said the spokesperson.

Copper theft has been a long-standing issue for BTP and Operation Drum was set up last year to tackle the increasing scale of the problem.