Two Romanians Jailed for SNCF Cable Theft in Nîmes
- NÎMES,France (May 5,2025) – Two Romanian cousins were sentenced in a Nîmes court after being apprehended for stealing copper cables from a French National railway Company (SNCF) building.
- The prosecutor of the Nîmes judicial court stated on May 2, "Obviously, we are faced with two individuals who come to France only to commit offenses." The defendants,...
- Edouard le Jan, president of the court, noted the defendants returned to France on Saturday, April 26, reportedly because the 35-year-old's wife wanted to visit her son incarcerated...
Romanian cousins Sentenced for Copper Theft in Nîmes
Table of Contents
- Romanian cousins Sentenced for Copper Theft in Nîmes
- Romanian Cousins Sentenced for Copper Theft in Nîmes: A Q&A
- What happened in Nîmes regarding copper theft?
- When were the Romanian cousins sentenced?
- Who were the defendants in the copper theft case?
- What charges were the defendants facing?
- What did the prosecutor say about the defendants?
- Why did the defendants return to France?
- Why did the Romanian cousins steal the copper?
- Did the defendants have prior criminal records?
- What were the prior offenses of the defendants?
- What sentence did the defendants receive?
- What other consequences did the defendants face?
- Did either defendant express remorse?
NÎMES,France (May 5,2025) – Two Romanian cousins were sentenced in a Nîmes court after being apprehended for stealing copper cables from a French National railway Company (SNCF) building. The incident occurred on the night of April 30.
Prosecutor: defendants Came to France to Commit Offenses
The prosecutor of the Nîmes judicial court stated on May 2, “Obviously, we are faced with two individuals who come to France only to commit offenses.” The defendants, ages 35 and 45, faced charges related to the theft of copper cables.
Copper Theft Motivated by Financial Need
Edouard le Jan, president of the court, noted the defendants returned to France on Saturday, April 26, reportedly because the 35-year-old’s wife wanted to visit her son incarcerated in Nîmes prison. According to their interpreter, the cousins claimed they were in financial straits after the visit. They allegedly knew that individuals from Spain frequently purchased copper in the area.Around midnight on april 30, they decided to steal cables from the SNCF through pre-existing holes but were caught by police.
Prior Offenses and Expulsion Order
The court president highlighted the extensive criminal records of both men, including burglary, conspiracy to commit theft, and aggravated theft. The 45-year-old had been previously barred from French territory following an expulsion order issued by the Prefect of Gard in June 2021.
Sentences and Consequences
During the trial, the 45-year-old defendant expressed remorse, stating, ”I regret. if you give me a last chance, I give my word that I would never come back to france.” Despite his plea, the court sentenced the men to 12 and 18 months in prison, respectively. A deposit warrant was issued, and their vehicle was confiscated. They are also obligated to pay €8,000 in damages to OC’VIA MAINTENANCE, the company affected by the theft.Moreover, both men received a final ban from French territory and were immediately taken to Nîmes prison to begin their sentences.
Romanian Cousins Sentenced for Copper Theft in Nîmes: A Q&A
What happened in Nîmes regarding copper theft?
Two Romanian cousins were sentenced in a Nîmes court for stealing copper cables from a French National railway Company (SNCF) building.The incident occurred on the night of April 30, 2025.The defendants were apprehended and afterward faced charges related to the copper theft.
When were the Romanian cousins sentenced?
The Romanian cousins were sentenced on May 5, 2025.
Who were the defendants in the copper theft case?
The defendants were two Romanian cousins, aged 35 and 45.
What charges were the defendants facing?
The defendants faced charges related to the theft of copper cables.
What did the prosecutor say about the defendants?
The prosecutor stated, “Obviously, we are faced with two individuals who come to France only to commit offenses.”
Why did the defendants return to France?
The court president noted that they returned to France on april 26, 2025, reportedly because the 35-year-old’s wife wanted to visit her son incarcerated in Nîmes prison.
Why did the Romanian cousins steal the copper?
According to their interpreter, the cousins claimed they were in financial straits after the visit. They allegedly knew that individuals from Spain frequently purchased copper in the area. They decided to steal cables around midnight on April 30, and were caught by police.
Did the defendants have prior criminal records?
Yes, the court president highlighted that both men had extensive criminal records. The 45-year-old had previously been barred from french territory.
What were the prior offenses of the defendants?
The prior offenses included burglary,conspiracy to commit theft,and aggravated theft.
What sentence did the defendants receive?
The court sentenced the men to 12 and 18 months in prison, respectively.
What other consequences did the defendants face?
- A deposit warrant was issued.
- Their vehicle was confiscated.
- They are obligated to pay €8,000 in damages to OC’VIA MAINTENANCE.
- They received a final ban from French territory.
Did either defendant express remorse?
Yes, the 45