The British Transport Police have set up a large scale operation over a large amount of the country’s railway lines in an attempt to catch thieves who are stealing power cables and copper signal to take advantage of the increasing demand for the metals.

The operation took place over two nights as the police scoured the West Coast Mainline and Channel Tunnel Rail Link using a number of resources, including a helicopter, specially adapted quiet trains, motion detectors and police dogs.

While nobody was caught in this particular sting, it does indicate that the Transport Police are becoming more serious about the problems facing both the rail and metal industries as prices for metals continue to be pushed up due to demand in developing countries.

In addition to scouring the railways of the land, the police have also been educating scrap metal buyers so that they will be able to spot and report stolen goods that are sold on to them. Hopefully the thefts won’t extend to specially created metal pressworks.