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ST. GEORGE — Thousands of feet of copper wiring stolen from Union Pacific's rail lines scattered throughout Iron County last year ended up at a recycling facility in St. George – a discovery that led to a felony arrest early Wednesday morning.
The charges stem from a months-long investigation that was opened on Sept. 1, when investigators from Union Pacific were following up on a string of thefts involving pole line wire reportedly stolen from various railroad locations throughout Iron County.
According to an affidavit filed by Adam Cleveland, a special investigator for Union Pacific Railroad, the wire taken is unique to the railroad industry and is designed to carry power, as well as signal system communication, since power lines are not always available in such remote locations.
These railroad lines span across hundreds of miles and Cleveland noted that it makes up part of the critical infrastructure which allows for trains to communicate their locations to the train dispatcher in Omaha, Nebraska. These dispatchers are tasked with operating all train signals. It is the copper that makes up a network that allows trains to travel across the United States without colliding with one another, the agent noted in the report.
Moreover, he noted, the theft involved active pole lines. The wire was in use at the time they were stolen.
Read the full article at St. George News.
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