Thieves Put 'Hundreds' Of SEPTA Riders At Risk

[s***@gmail.com]

Thieves Put 'Hundreds' Of SEPTA Riders At Risk

Walt Hunter
Reporting

(CBS 3) UPPER DARBY, Pa. Reckless vandals have been targeting SEPTA
rails, putting trolleys, trains and countless passengers in jeopardy,
police said.

The alleged thieves have been snatching pricey parts from rails in
Delaware County and authorities said it was a disaster waiting to
happen.

Police said the suspects would steal the valuable equipment and in
turn, sell it for cash.

Police said five times in the past weeks, suspects such as Andrew
Rowley, have allegedly stolen copper wire that controls SEPTA's
safety systems.

"This was a reckless, heinous act that could have put hundreds of
people's lives at risk," Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael
Chitwood said.

Chitwood said the theft of the boxes knocked out track and roadside
signals along the Route 101 trolley line.

Additional stolen wires knocked out signals and switches on the
high-speed Route 100 trolley.

Also, SEPTA's R3 Media/Elwyn regional rail trains temporarily lost
their guidance systems three times in recent weeks due to thefts.

An arrest warrant from the Upper Darby Police Department read in
part: "The signals are rendered useless and may cause a train/Rt. 100
trolley to possibly derail."

"It would be an urban tragedy if an accident occurred because these
idiots got to get their drugs," Chitwood said.

SEPTA officials denied a risk of derailment or collision.

The wire allegedly stolen by the thieves could fetch a large amount
of money. Wires stolen from two small boxes on the Route 101 line
have a price tag of about $18,000.

http://cbs3.com/local/local_story_240184434.html


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[Art Clemons]

Post by s***@gmail.com
The wire allegedly stolen by the thieves could fetch a large amount
of money. Wires stolen from two small boxes on the Route 101 line
have a price tag of about $18,000.

I have no doubt removing control and signal wiring puts commuters and
operators at risk. It may even cost $18,000 to replace the wiring, but
it's doubtful the thieves will even get $1,000 for the copper in the
wiring. No doubt after this story, the purchasers will lower the purchase
price even more.

[Karen Y Byrd]

Post by Art Clemons

Post by s***@gmail.com
The wire allegedly stolen by the thieves could fetch a large amount
of money. Wires stolen from two small boxes on the Route 101 line
have a price tag of about $18,000.

I have no doubt removing control and signal wiring puts commuters and
operators at risk. It may even cost $18,000 to replace the wiring, but
it's doubtful the thieves will even get $1,000 for the copper in the
wiring. No doubt after this story, the purchasers will lower the purchase
price even more.

My thought was that I road on both the 100 and 101 for years
and hadn't thought one single time about
the possibility of stolen signal wiring!