An institutional crisis triggered by copper theft
Recently, the theft of 40 meters of copper cable from the Montcada Bifurcació station, from the Adif and Rodalies Renfe network, has generated an institutional crisis between the Spanish government and the Catalan government. This incident has sparked a dispute over responsibility, leading both governments to provide explanations.
The silence of the ministry until the closing of the polling stations and the cross accusations have contributed to this situation. Users of Rodalies and the Catalan railway network know that incidents, such as delays, are frequent due to acts of vandalism and copper theft at Adif facilities.
Profile of the thieves and their modus operandi
According to the Mossos d’Esquadra, 80% of copper thieves are opportunists, many of them of foreign nationality, mainly from Eastern Europe, especially Romania. These thieves do not belong to large criminal organizations, but rather are low-level people with humble lives. They often attack the railway network and other businesses or construction sites, causing significant damage.
The theft of copper is classified as a theft before the judge, which results in ridiculous prison sentences compared to the damage caused. Despite being foreigners, if they are detained, judges investigate them only for theft and they are usually released within a few hours, which contributes to the multiple recurrences of copper theft.
Destination of stolen copper
The thieves sell the stolen copper in a network of scrap metal dealers who turn a blind eye, taking advantage of the high price of copper on the black market. Despite the control measures, the Mossos suspect that there is a black market circuit where this material is purchased without consideration, which makes its traceability difficult.
Institutional response and security measures
The Mossos d’Esquadra have increased patrolling and surveillance of the railway network, as well as the level of investigation to detect and stop thieves. In addition, they have asked Adif for responsibility regarding the protection of its facilities, pointing out that the lack of protection has contributed to the ease with which these thefts are committed.
The director of the Mossos d’Esquadra has defended that the first person responsible for the security of the railway infrastructure is Adif, since it is the owner. He has also ruled out that what happened was sabotage, stating that it was a copper theft.