NEWS: Metal Mentalists

By Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
September 5, 2008

THIEVES are risking their lives to steal metal and cable from the Lothians' railway network.

The soaring cost of scrap metal has led to such an increase in the number of crimes that the British Transport Police has set up a special squad to combat the problem.

And they have warned that the gangs are not just risking their own safety, but potentially the lives of passengers.

The Evening News has learned that at least ten thefts of signalling cable have been reported across Edinburgh and the Lothians in recent months. Many of the thefts have been from depots but several have involved the thieves trespassing on busy lines.

The key targets include the Portobello overhead line maintenance depot - which was hit twice in just over a month - and other rail depots in Slateford and Millerhill. Three of these thefts occurred within an eight mile radius in a single day.

Cable theft is becoming an increasing problem as the demand for metal grows, but its value on the black market is extremely low compared to dangers involved.

Detective Chief Inspector Jim McKelvie of the British Transport Police said: "These criminals put themselves in real danger as well as endangering and hugely inconveniencing the travelling public when they are delayed.

"The theft of metal from the railway has increased as the price of copper and other metal increases on world markets, but it has a massive economic impact on the railway industry."

Police said a trespassing thief who finds himself in front of a train could cause a derailment, while thefts of cable could also put signals out of action.

Network Rail said today that the rise in thefts had so far not had an effect on services, but said a security review was underway.

A spokesman said: "It is not an issue which is having a serious impact on our ability to deliver an effective rail service.

"We are always working to deter cable thieves from the railway by regularly reviewing on-site security at our facilities and using dedicated patrols and the Network Rail helicopter to monitor rail lines."

In recent months, metal thieves have been responsible for the theft of a chandelier and radiators from two New Town renovations, at least 140 iron manhole covers across the Lothians, lead roofing from Playfair Observatory and two massive spare propellers from the Royal Yacht Britannia.

Metal prices have soared in the past five years due to high demand from the booming economies of India and China.

Nationwide, the number of recorded metal or cable thefts from the railways is also soaring. There were 46 crimes in 2006, 64 in 2007, and in 2008 there have been 72 already.

RAILWAY ROBBERIES

Some of the cable thefts reported in the Lothians:

* March 18: Metal stolen from Portobello Overhead Line Depot

* March 19: Cable stolen from a signalling box in Ratho

* April 23: Cable stolen from Portobello Overhead Line Depot

* April 23: Cable stolen from the track near Bilston Glen

* April 23: Cable stolen near to the track in Gilmerton

* May 1: Cable stolen in the vicinity of Kirknewton railway station

* June 12: Cable stolen from Slateford Railway yard

* July 14: Cable stolen in the vicinity of one of Livingston's Railway Station

* July 26: Cable stolen from the Millerhill Depot

* July 29: Cable stolen from line in the Meadowbank area