Police search for burnt metal thief

Police are searching for a metal thief who tried to cut an electronic cable along a railway route near Most. The perpetrator dug up the cable providing electricity for the route’s safety system in five places and attempted to chop through it with an axe. In doing so, he received a jolt of around 6,000 volts, specialists said. The thief must have suffered at least minimal burns to his arms and upper body, they added, saying the accident could have ended badly indeed. The jolt partly melted and burned the axe, which was found at the scene. If caught (and found guilty in the case) the perpetrator could face up to six years in prison.

Author: Jan Velinger