Italian railway police arrest seven for copper theft

Italian railway police (Polfer) arrested seven individuals, including one minor, for the theft of copper from the national railway network. The operation took place in the San Martino in Campo area within the province of Perugia.

Authorities utilized a drone provided by Ferrovie dello Stato to monitor difficult-to-reach terrain. During the patrol, officers identified two vehicles and a group of people attempting to remove valuable copper from the tracks. Upon spotting the police, the suspects attempted to flee, leading to a pursuit that ended in their apprehension.

Police seized various tools used for cutting and storing the copper, along with the vehicles involved. The thefts have caused significant economic damage to infrastructure, resulting in train delays and high restoration costs. The suspects were processed in Perugia, with the minor being transferred to a juvenile detention center in Florence.