Copper thief copped at Phuket checkpoint
Phuket Gazette -

Mr Eakkapan indicating the 100,000 baht of copper wire that he stole. Photo: Thawit Bilabdullar

PHUKET: Police arrested a man carrying 100,000 baht worth of stolen copper wire concealed in fertilizer sacks at a routine checkpoint in Thalang yesterday .

Eakkapan Pinthong, 22, a construction worker at the Karn Keha public housing estate in Srisoonthorn, appeared nervous as he approached the checkpoint on Baan Don Road shortly after midnight yesterday, police said.

“He was riding a motorbike without a license plates, and carrying fertilizer sacks,” said Thalang Police Deputy Superintendent Amnuay Kraiwutthianun.

“We searched him and found 30 bundles of copper wire hidden in the sacks, worth about 100,000 baht.

Mr Eakkapan confessed to police that he had stolen the wire from the Karn Keha housing estate and planned to sell it.

“He said he saw it lying on the grass and took it. He didn’t realize that the theft had already been reported to the Thalang police,” Lt Col Amnuay said.

Police have charged Mr Eakkapan for theft and being in possession of stolen property.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Copper-thief-copped-at-Phuket-checkpoint-22011.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-08-20

Dumb

Good policing

Quick reporting

or just dumb luck?

He was riding a motorbike without a license plates

Stupid is as stupid does.

I have never seen a picture where they were pointing at the stolen goods rather than the thief!

didnt know the scrap copper price is that high

Jesus, THB100000 for that small amount of copper! Never let the trutch get in the way of a good story, especially when the BIB do a sterling job of catching the big fish!

1kg is 7.6.-US$, so the mountain of copper should be much higher.

didnt know the scrap copper price is that high

trust a journàsslist. a metric ton of copper is presently USD 7,450 (~230,000 Baht).

100,000 Baht worth of copper would amount to 435kg not taken into account that the thief wouldn't get the full price.

435kg on a motorbike? give me a break please!

didnt know the scrap copper price is that high

trust a journàsslist. a metric ton of copper is presently USD 7,450 (~230,000 Baht).

100,000 Baht worth of copper would amount to 435kg not taken into account that the thief wouldn't get the full price.

435kg on a motorbike? give me a break please!

yea, for sure we have all seen some huge loads on motorbikes, but that would take the cake if they could get it on..

the report says 30 bundles those are not really big bundles so i think maybe it is a big typo

That was only one sack of copper,the others are still stacked on the bike, about 55 sacks.... would love to see a photo of the bike and the sacks.

That was only one sack of copper,the others are still stacked on the bike, about 55 sacks.... would love to see a photo of the bike and the sacks.

that bike would be flat on the road

Two coppers find copper.