Copper and cable theft costs the rail industry millions each year, as well as delays for customers all across the country. We detail the dangers of such crime and how to combat this.
Railways rely on functioning cable to ensure smooth, streamline travel for commuters, so when this is stolen, there are likely to be severe knock-on effects.
From replacement costs and emergency repair fees to freight delays and financial loss from missed/delayed customer journeys, the impact of even small scale cable theft can be catastrophic.
We delve into the topic deeper, exploring the links between copper and cable theft, why it is on the rise at railways and how to prevent this.
The Cost of Copper and Cable Theft on Railways
Copper and cable theft is becoming increasingly costly for railways due to the heavy reliance thousands of individuals have on the service for their daily commutes and travel.
When cable is stolen, the costs don’t simply stop at replacing that cabling and restoring it back to a functioning, safe level, but also in the financial loss caused by delays and cancellations.
Reports dating further back showed compensations and delays over a three year period created an estimated business loss of £43 million, and in 2022, it was estimated commuters faced 50 days of delay due to raw signalling or overhead cable being stolen.
Most cabling utilises copper to power the train lines and with metal prices steadily on the rise, the cost of replacing this type of material following an incident of theft is increasing alongside this.
And due to this reliance, expectations for a quick turnaround are high, meaning emergency repairs will be required. This response will often come at an increased cost and cause even further financial loss.
Why is Copper and Cable Theft on The Rise on Railways?
Essentially, the link between the copper and cable theft is simple.
Most railway infrastructure cables contain copper and with many metals’ resale value increasing, particularly copper, criminals are seizing the opportunity to target industries where high volumes of this will be present.
And with most railways shut down at night, this provides thieves with the perfect time to strike, with minimal risk of disruption.
Except there will be heavy disruption to both rail companies and the commuters who use them as the cable being stolen relates to signalling cable, overhead power lines and metal fences, all of which help with the functioning and security of rail.
Additionally, rail lines stretch across vast areas, most of which are situated in rural, remote locations, meaning there is often an assumed lack of security expected in these locations.
This cabling is also likely to be exposed over long distances, essentially leaving them on display for all to see, including criminals.
Most thieves will seek low risk, high reward opportunities and due to the high-value copper involved in cabling and vast opportunities available to steal such material, railways face an uphill battle in preventing such crime.
How Can The Rail Industry Prevent Copper and Cable Theft?
With high financial loss on the line, the Rail industry as a whole must prioritise combatting copper and cable theft, otherwise costs to both companies and commuters is only going to grow.
Being a market-leading supplier in trackside security solutions, we outline the key security improvements you can make to prevent against copper and cable theft:
Enhance Your Cable Protection
Railways and rail lines involve a high volume of cabling, most of which is exposed and visible to the public.
This factor is often appealing to thieves and Organised Crime Gangs (OCGs) as it provides them with the perfect opportunity to scope out the area, how to access and at times, the amount of valuable material available to them.
Therefore, making physical security enhancements to the cabling can help protect against theft and improve the tracking of any tampering. Adjustments to consider include:
- Add tamper-proof cable covers and where possible place cabling underground
- Install cable alarms onto cables, so that if tampered with, will detect this and trigger an alarm
- Implement physical barriers such as fencing to prevent entry to areas of exposed cabling
- Increase lighting in remote, rural areas to reduce the chance of late night theft
Implement Regular Patrols From British Transport Police
The British Transport Police are a national Police force responsible for policing the railways across England, Wales and Scotland.
Their duties include responding and supporting incidents, investigating any crimes and working as a visible criminal deterrent against any crime like copper and cable theft.
However, it’s important to remain consistent with their presence to keep those informed that your raile lines are being monitored and there to react against any criminal activity.
The only limitation to increasing patrols is that British Transport Police can only cover particular areas of your railway and rail line areas due to health and safety.
Therefore, there is still risk to trackside interception as they will be unable to patrol these areas in case of injuring themselves. Criminals will be aware of this, particularly OCGs, so it’s recommended that further solutions are put in place to support in those areas.
Community Engagement and Campaigns
Rail lines and railways run through various locations, with many going through or nearby local neighbourhoods.
Engaging with communities regarding crime in the area can help increase reporting, whether it be identifying suspicious behaviour or witnessing theft of cable from the rail lines themselves.
You cannot have eyes on all areas at all times, so utilising the local communities’ support can help alleviate some of that responsibility, enhance your view and provide particular benefit in rural locations where there are fewer individuals present.
However, in order to gain the most out of this, you should create campaigns to inform individuals on how to report crime regarding railways and rail lines. Without this, individuals may witness copper and cable theft, but have no information on how to report this.
Consider your audience when creating the campaign on the best way to communicate this, from social media and online adverts to neighbourhood notice boards and local papers.
Forensically Mark Your Cables
There are measures you can take to forensically mark your cable to help with both tracking and tracing materials once stolen.
Options like marking it with a traceable liquid will mean that when criminals tamper with the cabling, there is a measure there to track them whilst remaining completely invisible to the human eye.
Alternatives include, attaching tags to the cabling that if stolen will allow you to track the location of those materials and retrieve them, helping to reduce that financial loss, but also hold those responsible legally accountable for their crime.
Use Alternative Materials
Other materials can be used as alternatives to copper with cabling on rail lines and these are often less valuable, making them less enticing to criminals.
Thieves are attracted to copper, therefore if you remove that from the equation, there is a high likelihood thieves will look to target different industries where high-volumes of copper can be found.
Alternative options include aluminium and composite cable, both of which hold lesser value than copper and are lower in demand within the criminal world and resale market.
Although, swapping cabling can be different, integrating this slowly is likely to help you move in the right direction towards preventing and reducing copper and cable theft striking your rail lines.
Install CCTV Trackside
Deploying CCTV trackside will help with the monitoring of your rail lines where it would be dangerous for individuals to patrol and ensure coverage on specific areas where thieves are more likely to target.
However, most CCTV systems are not suited to or allowed to be deployed trackside, except with ourselves.
We offer a Network Rail CCTV Tower which is fully PADs approved, deployed by Sentinel-trained teams and backed by NSI Gold Accredited monitoring partners.
We’ve worked directly with Network Rail and Tier 1 contractors to establish a fully-managed security service and system that effectively responds to crime without any input from you.
Our CCTV Tower is backed by remote monitoring services which means a team of trained professionals are monitoring your live feed off-site, assessing threats and responding remotely to help prevent and intercept crime.
Responses can range from sirens and live voice-down audio challenges to calling the Police to the scene if needed.
Our system also records all activity 24/7 at the specified location which allows you to review footage, as well as use it for evidential purposes in legal prosecutions if an incident or near-incident of theft does occur.
Having over 20-years of expertise in supporting rail companies with their security, we understand the unique specifications required to provide the high-quality service you deserve at the most vulnerable points of your rail line.
Take Control of Copper and Cable Theft With Trackside Security
Concerned about copper and cable theft? Take control of your railways and rail lines with proactive, preventative trackside security.
Our Network Rail CCTV Towers are specifically designed to support the challenges presented within the industry.
Their fully autonomous design allows them to work completely independently of power and internet, making them suitable for all trackside locations and ensuring you’re not made to skimp on the quality of security you face due to this.
Our services help prevent copper and cable theft, as well as other rail-related crimes such as fly-tipping and trespassing.
The success of our CCTV Towers has allowed us to build well-established relationships with rail companies, reducing crime and helping improve their customers’ experiences through this.
Looking to find out more? Speak with one of our rail security experts today!
