Chetumal, Q.R. — Police searched a scrap business in Chetumal Wednesday after operating cables were taken from a Maya Train line. The stolen live-line cables left section seven of Tren Maya in the Xul-Ha region inoperable.
Maya Train authorities say this is not the first time live-line cables have been stolen from the section seven line.
Ángel Rendón, Manager of the Maya Train Chetumal station, said that this type of theft has been ongoing due to the high value of copper wiring. He says the wire along this line has become a target for thieves who strip it to sell the copper inside.
“Copper thefts have occurred along the contact line damaging the train and especially impacting those who want to travel. We have detected this in the Xul-Ha area on section seven which is the most affected point,” he explained.
On Wednesday, police, military personnel and National Guard participated in a search operation of a scrap yard. Authorities were looking for the latest batch of stolen underground cables as well as material removed from a Maya Train maintenance yard.
State police officers were also on the lookout for other metal items belonging to the Tren Maya. Thieves reportedly made off with metal beams and rails belonging to the federal government.
Police say those particular items are stamped with serial numbers and will be easy to identify once located.
Authorities were at the yard around 4:00 p.m., blocking street passage while they searched for the missing metal. Police stayed at the site until around 5:30 when the avenues were reopened to general traffic and closure seals were placed across the building.
