Spain's Civil Guard arrested a Romanian man suspected of stealing 860 meters of copper cable from the Madrid-Barcelona line.

A 24-year-old Romanian man was arrested by Spain’s Civil Guard on suspicion of two copper cable thefts committed on consecutive days along the Madrid-Barcelona railway line in Zaragoza province. The incidents took place on October 13 and 14, 2026, near the towns of Lumpiaque and Plasencia de Jalón, while the arrest was made on November 5.

In the first case, 800 meters of copper contact wire and the support elements of the electrical installation were stolen. The following day, the perpetrators took a further 60 meters of cable. The total damage was estimated at €82,500, including the stolen materials and the destruction caused to the infrastructure.

Investigators in Tarazona established that the same method was used in both cases. The cables were cut into pieces of approximately one meter using a tool resembling industrial shears, then concealed near the tracks for later transport in a vehicle. The incidents affected the trains’ electrical power supply systems and created risks to rail safety.

The suspect, who lives in Ricla, is being investigated for two offenses of burglary. The Civil Guard continues its inquiries to identify all those involved.