Police want your help catching trolley wire thieves
Posted June 19, 2019 8:48 pm.
Last Updated June 19, 2019 9:17 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Transit Police in Metro Vancouver are asking for help catching thieves targeting trolley wires.
Last year, Coast Mountain Bus Company says copper wires were stolen more than two dozen times, and in some cases. Most of the thefts last year happened between midnight and 6 a.m.
.@TransitPolice is hoping you can help them catch thieves stealing trolley wires. In some cases, thieves left the live wires dangling, which is seriously dangerous. Touching the wires can send 600 volts through your body and kill you. Here are a couple theft hot spots. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/rrDA1Cpbzy
— Lauren Boothby (@laurby) June 20, 2019
Sgt. Clint Hampton with Transit Police says people have cut the wires and left them dangling there.
“We’ve even had circumstances where we’ve had children walk by live trolley wire that’s been left by these individuals,” he says.
Cutting or touching the high-voltage wires is extremely dangerous, and can send a serious shock of 600 volts through your body.
“What would happen to a person that touched that wire, you ask? That person would be seriously injured or killed. This is dangerous stuff,” he says.
In a video posted to Twitter, Transit Police are asking the public to contact them if you see someone meddling with the wires that aren’t inside one of the bus company’s trolley repair vehicles.
Here’s what the trolley repair vehicles look like. If you see a vehicle that looks different than this meddling with the trolley wires, you’re asked to get in touch with @TransitPolice (don’t intervene though). @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/MZtPwu5POt
— Lauren Boothby (@laurby) June 20, 2019
You’re being reminded not to intervene, not to touch the wires, and to stay back at least 10 metres from live wires.
If there is an emergency, call 911. You can call Transit Police tip lines at 604-516-7419 or text them at 87-77-77, or report anonymously through Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
VIDEO RELEASE: Trolley wire thieves put lives at risk. Learn how to keep yourself safe and what you can do to help Transit Police stop this crime #MakeLifeHardForThieves #SeeSomethingSaySomething @TransLink @SolveCrime pic.twitter.com/RFMi7jcp0a
— Metro Vancouver Transit Police (@TransitPolice) June 19, 2019
– With files from Jonathan Szekeres
