Public Transportation and Smart Growth

mahatmakanejeeves

(65,626 posts)

5. There's surely surveillance video.

Mon Jul 3, 2023, 02:48 PM

Jul 2023

They might be working after the system shuts down for the night. The DC Metro stops running at, uh, give me a minute.

Well, whatever, at some point, I suspect the power is turned off for maintenance. Diesel-powered equipment can still access the territory. If there's any doubt about energization, the thieves can toss a stretch of cable across the third rail and a running rail. No sparks, and you're good to go.

I agree with you that, if several 500-foot cable reels of copper wire walked away from a warehouse overnight, the authorities could begin with a concentrated search.

As an aside, not everyone appreciates the danger of the third rail.

METRO (WMATA)

‘Not worth the risk': Scary videos show people crossing Metro tracks

Surveillance footage from the Eisenhower Avenue station shows a man step over the third rail

By Adam Tuss, News4 Anchor & Transportation Reporter and Andrea Swalec • Published June 26, 2023 • Updated on June 26, 2023 at 4:38 pm

{snip}

Metro dealing with troubling trespassing trend: The News4 Rundown

NBC4 Washington
20.4K subscribers

433 views Jun 27, 2023
Metro is dealing with a trespassing trend. One person died after trying to ride on top of a train, and more people are putting their lives at risk by climbing onto the tracks. Also in The News4 Rundown: A grocery store chain says shoplifting is costing millions of dollars.
_______
NBC4 Washington / WRC-TV is the No. 1 broadcast television station and the home of the most-watched local news in Washington, D.C. NBCWashington.com is the market’s most-visited local television station website across all platforms.

{snip}

And good afternoon.

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Copper wire thefts on the rise, causing delays for Metro's rail lines - Los Angeles Times [View all] mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2023 OP

Inside job for sure LuvLoogie Jul 2023 #1

"These thefts are happening on the above-ground sections of the light rail lines." mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2023 #3

How do you steal live copper wire without electrocuting yourself? LuvLoogie Jul 2023 #4

There's surely surveillance video. mahatmakanejeeves Jul 2023 #5

Wire theft is big in Costa Rica. Our whole barrio was out for months due to wire theft. LakeArenal Jul 2023 #2