Jake Moore's alleged crime was quickly reported to police and officers caught him red-handed on Friday in Baddaginnie, near Benalla, where he had travelled from his Tungamah home to steal more copper.

He remained custody after appearing in Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Monday.

Police told the court the copper, allegedly stolen on multiple occasions, was valued at a total of $17,000.

But Moore's solicitor Geoff Clancy said his client would only admit to some, not all, of the thefts.

Police prosecutor Leading Senior Constable Sarah Williamson said Moore was a risk of further offending and endangering the public because interfering with the copper causes danger to users of the North East rail line.

"Repairs on one occasion were approximately $10,000," she said.

"Safety was the biggest concern."

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Moore was already on bail for an alleged burglary at Tungamah Football Club at the time of his arrest.

He applied for bail on Monday, but magistrate Peter Dunn adjourned the application so Moore could be assessed for a drug-support program.

"He has created a significant interference with the operation of the rail system and caused various crews of people to have to go out and repair it," Mr Dunn said.

"It's repeated acts of dishonesty that strike at the heart of the reliability and safety of the rail system.

"He's travelled a significant distance from Tungamah down to Baddaginnie on a number of occasions, according to the police, to commit these fairly brazen thefts."

Police also allegedly found amphetamines, knuckle dusters and cartridge ammunition when they searched Moore's home.

Mr Clancy said this was Moore's first time in custody and he was withdrawing from a drug of dependence.

The bail application will continue on Tuesday.