POLICE believe they have smashed an organised gang responsible for a series of high-value metal thefts on the rail network.

British Transport Police conducted co-ordinated dawn swoops on five homes as part of Operation Ariel and arre-sted four men.

Police suspect a gang, which has been operating throughout the North West, has made up to £50,000 by selling the stolen metal over the past six months.

East Lancashire thefts are being linked to the inves-tigation. Detectives believe th-ose behind the thefts pose as genuine rail workers on the premise that they are dispos-ing of scrap rail.

They wear railway clothing, are aware of railway proced-ures and carry railway identification cards and official paperwork.

Officers are investigating the possibility haulage firms were used to transport the stolen metal.

Detective Inspector Andrea Rainey said: “This is a very sophisticated crime group in the way its goes about organising, stealing and selling the metal.

“We would like to appeal to haulage companies who have been approached by people asking to move scrap metal from the railways to come forward and help us with our inquiries.

“We believe they are innocent companies that are none the wiser and just going out to do a job but they could have important information.”

In the swoops on Wednesday, police seized paperwork, railway uniforms and plant equipment. They arrested four men, aged 44, 43, 41 and 39 on suspicion of theft. In August, thieves caused rail chaos after stealing more than £52,000 worth of cable when they struck at the side of the railway, near to Rake’s Bridge, Lower Darwen.

Trains between Blackburn and Bolton were brought to a standstill.

A British Transport Police spokesman said that so far in 2009, there has been a slow but steady rise in the number of crimes recorded.

Figures last year claimed to show the black market in scrap metal was now worth £4.8million annually.