New York Man Arrested in 8 Copper Cable Thefts Along LIRR

Transit police say they’ve found a thief who has repeatedly stolen copper cable recently along the Long Island Rail Road right-of-way. One theft delayed trains.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police Michael Coan says Bernard Jenkins was arrested Friday on charges including grand larceny. They stem from eight copper cable thefts this month.

The 58-year-old Jenkins is awaiting arraignment, and it’s not immediately clear whether he has an attorney. A phone number for him couldn’t immediately be found.

The charges include taking 300 feet of cable Thursday at Willis Avenue in Mineola. The MTA says that theft caused a small track fire that damaged rail and forced some trains to go slowly during the morning rush hour.

Such thefts have been a problem before. The MTA has stepped up surveillance.