News

Thieves smashing UK railway kiosks for cash

June 11, 2014

A U.K gang has been targeting ticket machines at railway stations in Hertfordshire and London, reports Heart Hertfordshire. The attackers, using angle grinders and pickaxes, caused damage estimated at £100,000 ($167,516) to steal £3,000 ($5,025) in cash. One machines suffered damage of £23,000 ($38,528), but yielded no cash, since it only accepted cards.

Newly installed security cameras installed at the stations captured good quality videos of the attackers, and the police are appealing for people to come forward if they recognize the criminals, Heart Hertfordshire said.

The British Transport Police have set up Operation Captivity, a nationwide effort to catch criminals who target ticket vending machines at railway stations, reports Welwyn Hatfield Times.

"The money stolen in these attacks really does pale into insignificance when you consider the cost of the damage — which is estimated as 33 times the value of the cash taken,” British Transport Police Detective Constable Nick Thompson, who is leading the investigation, told Welwyn Hatfield Times. “These thefts haven't just hit the rail industry financially, they've also caused disruption and inconvenience to passengers, with ticket machines taken out of service for repairs.”