Southern Thailand: Repeated thefts at Trang oil palm farm cause costly loss for owner

A local oil palm farm in Trang province has been repeatedly invaded by thieves over the past two years, causing the owner to lose hundreds of thousands of baht.

The situation has become so severe that the owner, 25 year old Chatchai Sirijarukul, has reported the incidents to the police three times, but to no avail. He claims to possess evidence of the culprits in the form of receipts from the oil palm buying station, photographs of the thieves, and a police report.

The thefts, which have been ongoing since 2021, have resulted in significant financial losses for the farm owner. The thieves are suspected to come from the local community and have been seen entering the farm every 15 days or so, which is approximately one cycle, to steal the palm fruits. Despite the presence of a fence, the thieves have managed to breach the farm’s security by cutting the locks. Even more, some locals have been seen grazing their cattle on the farm.

The issue escalated last year when Chatchai’s father confronted the thieves and was threatened with a knife. Despite reporting the incident and attempted bodily harm to the local Nong Trud Police Station, the culprits remain at large. The problem has become more pressing recently as the price of palm has increased to 5 baht per kilogramme, making the farm an even more attractive target for thieves, reported KhaoSod.

Chatchai has taken additional security measures, such as installing a barbed wire fence around his 30-acre property and planning to install CCTV cameras and hire a guard. However, the thefts have continued, leading Chatchai to believe that the culprits are influential figures in the local community. His attempts to resolve the issue through the village head have been unsuccessful, leaving him to rely less on the police and more on his resources to protect his property.