Thief Electrocuted While Attempting to Steal Power Cables in Samut Prakan

Picture from responders.

A man attempting to steal electrical cables from a streetlight on the Theparat Road (Bang Na-Trat) express lane was electrocuted and died at the scene early on 16 January.

At 07:00, Lieutenant Traikhun Norrarat, Deputy Inspector at Bang Kaew Police Station, was informed of an electrocution incident near kilometre marker 15 on the inbound express lane of Theparat Road, behind a highway department booth. Rescue workers from the Poh Teck Tung Foundation accompanied police officers to the scene.

The victim, a man estimated to be around 40 years old, was found lying on his back behind a barrier. Both of his hands were gripping electrical wires and conduit pipes tightly. His right hand bore severe burns consistent with electrocution.

No identification documents were found on the body, but a shoulder bag was recovered containing wire cutters and a cable stripping knife.

Upon inspecting the area, authorities discovered that electrical wires had been cut and partially removed from a streetlight’s conduit pipe.

Ms. Thongdee Janhom, 58, a highway department official in Samut Prakan, reported seeing the man wandering around kilometre markers 12-13 the previous day. She described him as a vagrant carrying a small bag. She recognised him as someone she had previously asked to leave the department’s premises at kilometre 22, where signs of burnt electrical cables suggested attempts to extract copper for resale.

Ms. Thongdee had earlier expressed concerns about fire hazards caused by burning cables to extract the copper, which prompted her to prevent him from staying in the area.

Police suspect that the man had returned to steal streetlight cables when he was electrocuted and killed instantly. The body was sent to Ramathibodi Chakri Naruebodindra Hospital for a post-mortem examination.

Further investigations are ongoing to confirm the identity of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the incident.

-- 2025-01-17