A man suffered burns to his hands in an apparent attempt to steal cable from a railway line in Nuneaton.
British Transport Police said the incident had happened near Beverley Avenue, in Stockingford, in the early hours of Tuesday.
Det Sgt Graham Moss said: "Officers attended the railway line and discovered live railway cable had been cut at the scene."
He added they were now appealing for witnesses to contact them.
'Dangerous environment'He said: "Evidence at the scene also suggests that whoever had attempted to steal the cable will have suffered burns to their hands as a result of the high voltage running through the cable.
"I would therefore appeal to anyone who knows someone who has suffered burns since the early hours of the morning of 26 April, or who has information which they believe can assist the investigation, to come forward in strict confidence.
"This incident illustrates what a dangerous environment the railway can be."
He added: "It's essential that we find this person as they may also need hospital treatment for their injuries."
Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2011 6:56 pm