As of: April 7, 2024, 5:33 p.m
By: Martin Schullerus
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One of the four warning devices that were in use along the route. © Federal Police
For weeks, so-called warning devices on the railway track in Würmtal have warned construction workers about trains - and cost residents sleep and nerves. Coincidence or not: Four of the devices were stolen last week. Damage: 48,000 euros.
Gräfelfing -
The noise went through everyone's bones and often didn't stop until late into the night. In the past three weeks, Deutsche Bahn has renewed a track between Planegg and Pasing. Not only were impressive construction machines on rails used, but also the well-known warning devices, which use their piercing sound to signal the approach of a train and thus protect the construction workers from accidents. Because the construction machinery is extremely loud when it comes to gravel, for example, the warning tone has to be even louder.
On the Internet, hundreds of residents near and far from the railway line complained about the acoustic disturbance, especially at night. And some people were so at their wits' end that some of their contributions could no longer be described as factual.
On Sunday, the federal police reported the theft of four of these devices. “In the area of the Lochham S-bus stop, Gräfelfing municipality, four wired warning devices, including the associated control unit and jack, were stolen by unknown perpetrators between early Wednesday morning and Thursday afternoon (April 3rd/4th),” the federal police said. These devices were no longer in use at the time of the theft. Workers dismantled them during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday and stored them next to the tracks for collection.
A problem arose; the material was not picked up as planned. When the collection company finally arrived late, previously unknown thieves had already taken advantage of the situation and stolen the devices. According to the Federal Police, their total value is 48,000 euros.
“We are investigating in all directions,” said Wolfgang Hauner from the Federal Police on Sunday in the Merkur interview. He also could not explicitly rule out the possibility that frustrated residents would have vented their anger in this way - even if the construction site had already been completed. However, this is purely speculative at this point. It is at least as likely for the police that employees of another construction company were behind the theft. Hauner: “Construction equipment is stolen again and again, including excavators.” The federal police have the serial numbers of the stolen warning devices. “We will be watching very closely to see whether the devices will be used somewhere later,” says Hauner. In the meantime, he is asking the public for information. Anyone who has discovered anything suspicious in this context or can provide information about the whereabouts of those who gave the warning should call (089) 515 55 00.
The warning devices were placed at this point in the track area near Lochham and were stolen. © Federal Police