Five bailed over rail cable thefts which delayed thousands

The men, aged 21, 29, 30, 31 and 37, were arrested on Thursday at their homes in Thurnscoe in a pre-planned raid by British Transport Police.

The men were questioned in connection with the theft of cable from a railway line near to Knottingley station, in West Yorkshire, on Thursday.

A British Transport Police spokeswoman said the theft had caused “major disruption to rail services in the area and misery to thousands of members of the travelling public”.

The men were later released on police bail pending further inquiries.

Detective Inspector Mick Jackson, of British Transport Police’s dedicated cable team Operation Leopard, said: “This arrest forms part of ongoing work we are undertaking with Network Rail and local police forces to tackle this crime. Work which is having a great effect.

“After officers launched an investigation, within 24 hours five men were traced and arrested in connection with the offence, which caused misery to thousands.”

He added: “The theft of cable has a direct impact on the everyday lives of the travelling public, it really is an attack on the community.

“The act of stealing cable is also an extremely dangerous crime which is costly to the rail industry and to the thousands of passengers who rely on the rail network.”

Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union, said the problem of cable theft was “out of control” as rail passengers between Essex and London suffered delays after a theft at Rainham.