The Guardia Civil has launched an investigation focusing on the hypothesis that copper cable theft is the primary cause behind the disruption of train services between Madrid and Seville, impacting 10,700 travelers.

Authorities are examining four locations in Toledo where approximately 150 meters of copper cable was reported stolen.

The robbery involved not just the cutting of the cable but also its extraction, coiling, and subsequent transportation, which suggests a level of organization and expertise among the perpetrators.

Such cable is notably heavy and resembles high-tension wires, which adds to the complexity of the theft.

Notably, the affected areas had no security surveillance or cameras.

While the government remains cautious, the Minister of Transport, Óscar Puente, has proposed the possibility of a deliberate act to disrupt services.

He suggested that the incident could be part of a sabotage tactic, a theory he has advanced on social media, describing it as a significant act against the high-speed Madrid-Seville line.

He emphasized that if the act were purely theft, it raises questions about its purpose given the minimal economic incentive, amounting to approximately one thousand euros, contrasted with the severe disruption caused.

The minister's comments came as the Guardia Civil's investigative unit began their inquiry.

Initial observations by officers revealed similarities with previous instances of copper cable theft in Spain, particularly near railway lines.

A similar incident in Barcelona last year resulted in a complete halt of Rodalies services; in that case, the authorities arrested multiple repeat offenders who were involved in organized crime rings specializing in such thefts.

The increase in copper and conductor material theft has been significant, nearly doubling from 2021 to 2024, rising from 2,365 recorded thefts in 2021 to 4,433 in the previous year.

During this period, the number of arrests and ongoing investigations related to these crimes has also escalated.

Data from the Ministry of the Interior indicates that criminal incidents associated with these thefts remained relatively stable between 2019 and 2021, with a notable decrease in 2020 attributed to COVID-19 lockdowns.

The uptick in the number of robberies began in 2021, with reported figures of 3,650 in 2022, followed by 4,053 in 2023, and peaking at 4,433 in 2024. Three autonomous communities—Castilla-La Mancha, Andalucía, and Madrid—accounted for approximately half of last year’s recorded copper thefts.

Specifically, Castilla-La Mancha registered 799 thefts, marking an increase of 60 from 2023; Andalucía had 745, down by 139; and Madrid reported 678, showing an increase of 208.

In contrast, the Basque Country, along with the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla, reported no such illicit activities.