Russian rail thief nabs 275 tonnes of track

Saint Petersburg : Police in Saint Petersburg said Wednesday that they have arrested a man for stealing more than 275 tonnes of rail track. Armed only with a spanner and pliers, the unemployed 38-year-old, who was caught red-handed, stole pieces of metal that connected the rail tracks, the police said. They did not specify over what period of time the metal was stolen, but said the total booty weighed in at more than 275 tonnes. The thief faces a jail sentence of up to five years. With metal fetching around $220, 190 euros per tonne, even small pieces are frequently stolen in Russia.