Police Arrest 2 Suspects in Electric Transformer Theft Ring Operating as a Family Business

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), under the command of Police General Chirapop Phuridet, Commissioner of the CIB, along with the Highway Police Division, apprehended two individuals suspected of stealing electric transformers in a coordinated operation. The crime was carried out by a family group, who allegedly learned how to dismantle the transformers from YouTube videos.

The arrested suspects are:

1. Sak Sitt (38), wanted under four arrest warrants from the Satun Provincial Court dated November 7 and 8, 2024.

2. Somjit (65), also wanted under four arrest warrants from the Satun Provincial Court on the same dates.

Both individuals are accused of conspiring to steal property at night, using a vehicle to aid in the theft, and targeting public utility property.

The arrests occurred on November 9, on Phetkasem Road, in the area of Khao Yai, Cha-am, Phetchaburi Province, after authorities were alerted to a series of transformer thefts. The thefts were traced back to an incident on September 7, 2024, when local police in Satun arrested a 16-year-old suspect, “Ae,” caught in the act of stealing a transformer. Ae confessed that he had worked with three accomplices, including Sak Sitt (his father), Somjit (his grandfather), and an unnamed 15-year-old girl.

The family would travel on a motorcycle sidecar (a “salaeng”) to various locations in the Tanyong Po area of Satun Province, where they would dismantle transformers from utility poles. The stolen parts were then sold to scrap metal dealers in Hat Yai, Songkhla Province, for around 8,000 to 10,000 baht per unit. The family would share the profits to cover living expenses.

Ae admitted to having stolen transformers four times, with each sale yielding approximately 40,000 baht. He explained that he learned the process of stealing transformers by watching YouTube tutorials and even helped create the necessary tools for the thefts.

Following the investigation, the police issued arrest warrants for the remaining three suspects. Sak Sitt and Somjit were tracked down while attempting to flee to Bangkok by car. The authorities set up a roadblock and apprehended them on Phetkasem Road in Phetchaburi, before transporting them back to Satun for further legal proceedings.

Picture courtesy of ThaiRath.

-- 2024-11-10