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A network of telecom cable thieves has been dismantled near Nantes (Loire-Atlantique). Three men were arrested, two of whom had just cut the equivalent of two kilometers of equipment.
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Two kilometers of telecom cable were piled up at the back of a car, total value: 20,000 euros. The criminals, caught in the act, had just stolen them. What they were looking for was the copper contained in the sheaths. The flight took place in the Nantes region (Loire-Atlantique) on the night of Tuesday 29 to Wednesday 30 July. Three individuals open a hatch and cut a cable belonging to Orange. The band of criminals, under surveillance for weeks, is suspected of 21 flights for a prejudice of 700,000 euros. The operating mode was well established. “They cut a end, then they hang the cable at their car, they shoot and go back and forth, and shoot miles of cable”, explains Warrant Officer Philippe, leader of the Investigation Group Series Phenomenon of the Compagnie de Nantes.
According to Orange, following the Larcin, 200 to 400 customers are deprived of a fixed phone or the Internet. But sometimes, these kinds of flights affect many more people, like a month ago at the Lille station (North). Some trains have been delayed, even canceled, due to the flight of 600 meters of cable along the railroad tracks. “These are cables that are used to control signage, in this case needles that make it possible to direct the trains on the tracks”Details Thibaut Vieiledent, leader of the territorial unit for North European Infrapole Maintenance.
Why are thieves interested in copper so much? In five years, its course has almost doubled, going from $ 6,000 per tonne to more than 10,000. And there is no shortage of outlets. Little -looking scrap dealers buy the stolen goods.
In the North, an unexpected control takes place. And in a few minutes, the investigators spot copper of dubious origin.“We have just found around 200, 300 kilos in sight of copper cables that have been released from their envelope in order to remove all the signs of recognition. We recognize them”Ensures Pierre Couture, regional delegate Orange Hauts-de-France.
Most companies do not communicate on the damage caused by this kind of flights. But Orange says it costs him almost 15 million euros each year.
