UK - Slash and grab raids on railways

[John Ashworth]

Slash and grab raids on railways
Page last updated at 12:04 GMT, Monday, 1 December 2008
BBC

Gangs of youths have been carrying out raids on freight trains as they pass through North Lanarkshire.

British Transport Police are investigating four incidents where trains carrying goods to Tesco supermarkets were targeted.

The gangs slashed the sides of the trains and, in one raid the Wishaw area, escaped with cases of alcohol.

Police have been monitoring the tracks by helicopter in a bid to spot the raiders.

In the most recent incident, on 12 November, a gang tried to steal from a DRS freight service stopped at a signal near Craigneuk.

Another attempted robbery was recorded at the same place in May 2007.

Raiders were more successful in nearby Wishaw where, in February this year, they got away with cases of alcohol.

After a train was targeted in the same area in August 2007 police arrested a 12-year-old boy in possession of a knife.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "Anyone trespassing on the railway to commit an act of criminality is extremely foolish and puts themselves in grave danger, with our first concern being for the safety of all railway users.

"We will continue to use our resources intelligently and use innovative resources, such as the Network Rail helicopter, to detect and deter those who think the railway is an environment where crime can take place."

The spokesman added: "We will work closely with our colleagues in the rail industry to ensure incidents such as these remain at a low level and rail staff can work unhindered."