The appropriate response and vigilance of Railway Security Guard officers contributed to the arrest of the 31-year-old, who had been stealing metal components from a disused catenary network.
The man was arrested near the railway tracks by Chojnów police officers. In the vehicle belonging to the arrested man, the officers secured several bags of stolen property. The cut-up components had already been prepared for removal. Tools, including metal-cutting shears, were also found in the Daewoo's trunk and were subjected to inspection.
Officers determined that several hundred metres of contact wire, worth PLN 36,000, had fallen victim to the thief. Dismantling the catenary components was a very risky undertaking for the 31-year-old because the line was energized, creating a direct risk of electrocution.
On the basis of the collected evidence, investigators charged the perpetrator with theft, for which he faces up to five years in prison.