Phuket —
Police investigators from Chalong Police Station have arrested two brothers accused of repeatedly stealing electrical cables from homes and construction sites in Rawai Subdistrict, causing widespread damage and financial loss to property owners.
The Chalong Police told the Phuket Express that throughout May, officers received six reports of copper wire thefts in the area. Most crime scenes lacked CCTV coverage, making evidence collection difficult. However, on May 30th, three more thefts occurred in a single night, one of which was captured clearly on surveillance cameras.
Investigators traced the suspects’ escape route and identified a motorcycle matching the one seen in the footage parked at a house in Rawai. A search of the residence uncovered two men, identified as Mr. Hreen and Mr. Yoh (surnames withheld), along with a large quantity of stolen materials, including:
- Four rolls of copper wire
- Seven sacks and one basket filled with stripped cables
- One black main power line
- Wire-cutting tools
Police also discovered methamphetamine tablets and drug paraphernalia. Both suspects tested positive for drug use.
During interrogation, the brothers confessed to committing six thefts, admitting they stripped insulation from the wires and sold the copper to scrap dealers to fund daily expenses and purchase narcotics.
Authorities charged the suspects with theft and drug-related offenses. Both men, along with the seized evidence, were handed over to Chalong investigators for prosecution.
Police have urged residents to consider installing CCTV systems at homes and construction sites, noting that surveillance footage was crucial in solving this case and remains a vital tool in preventing and investigating crime.
