Sabotage in Menidi on the ΟΣΕ line: cable theft and arrests

Two people were arrested in connection with the theft of cables from an electrical installation at the ΣΚΑ station in Menidi, but they are no longer at large.

Drone footage shows an attacker cutting telecommunications cables on a line in Menidi, but due to a lack of evidence those arrested had to be released. In a statement, the Attica General Police Department ΓΑΔΑ said, quotes CNN Greece:

“Today, Friday October 4, 2024, early in the morning (at about 01.00) the ΔΙ.ΑΣ and ΟΠΚΕ teams received a signal about people who are on the railway tracks, committing acts of damage and theft of cables in the Acharnon area. Police immediately arrived in the area, but the perpetrators of the damage and theft were not found. At the scene of the incident, two people were detained and taken to the Acharnon security department – a Greek citizen and a foreigner. During the investigation, no signs of a crime were found, and no case was brought against them. During the tenure of these persons in the security department, not a single representative or employee of the railway company came with a complaint about the commission of crimes on the railway. After checking the data of the detainees and their presence in the service for a certain time, they were released. Finally, around 12:00 on October 4, a representative of the railway company came to the police station to file a complaint against unknown persons. The preliminary investigation into this case is being carried out by the Acharnon Security Department.”

Unknown persons cut the fence of a line located near the ΣΚΑ commuter rail station, walked along the tracks and attempted to steal cables from a telecommunications company. Drone footage shows an attacker cutting telecommunications cables at the ΣΚΑ station in Menidi. In the statement ΟΣΕ it says:

“Another damage to the cables of the ΟΣΕ railway line in the ΣΚΑ area occurred at dawn by two people who were arrested by the Greek police after committing illegal acts. Today at dawn a problem arose in the ΣΚΑ area. The agency drone, which has recently been in the possession of ΟΣΕ, was immediately raised for appropriate verification, and following the pilot's report, 2 people were located and proceeded to steal. The police were informed and made an arrest at 01:48. ΟΣΕ is currently taking legal action against those involved.”

The increasing incidence of theft of railway materials, rails and cables, has become a serious problem affecting the Greek railway infrastructure. Groups operating in areas such as Acharnes and ΣΚΑ are plundering telecommunications and signal cables, blocking train traffic. The consequences of these actions are significant, as control panels lose information about the exact position of trains, leading to delays and inconvenience for passengers.

At the same time, criminals do not limit themselves to cables, but also steal parts of rails, and the stolen goods are sent to illegal foundries to sell copper and metal. Recently, in the Taurus area, police officers tracked down a vehicle carrying more than 500 kg of railroad material. It appears that the interest of these groups has now shifted to electrification, since the solid electrolytic copper from which the rails are made has a high value in the scrap market.

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