Midnight copper thief plunges Phuket villas into darkness
Police race to catch elusive suspect as fears grow over rising copper wire thefts
A cunning cable thief struck under the cover of darkness in Phuket’s Chalong area, cutting off power to six luxury homes, and leaving residents fuming and fearful of more attacks.
At around midnight on Saturday, May 3, a thief dug into the ground at the Siwalee Village section of Land & Houses Park and made off with a bundle of copper wiring, causing a blackout across six villas. The sabotage triggered alarm among residents, who say similar incidents are becoming increasingly common.
Chalong Police Chief Police Colonel Rungrit Rattanaphakdi confirmed that officers are investigating the theft and hunting down the suspect.
“The culprit appears to know exactly what he’s doing. We’re working to arrest him as soon as possible. If we don’t, he’ll cut more wire again and affect even more homes.”
Police revealed the thief targeted a single set of underground cables, strategically slicing through them to steal the valuable copper and making a clean getaway, all while residents were fast asleep.
The crime has left locals on edge, many worried their homes could be next.
“We’ve seen an increase in this type of theft recently,” one resident said. “It’s not just about the inconvenience. It’s dangerous, especially for families with kids or elderly people.”
Police are now stepping up efforts to track the suspect’s movements, including reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas and checking for potential links to previous copper thefts in southern Thailand, reported The Phuket News.
The theft highlights a growing trend in copper-related crimes. Copper prices have surged in recent years, making underground power cables a lucrative target for thieves and a major headache for homeowners.
In a similar incident last month, thieves stole wiring from a construction site in Kathu, causing delays and tens of thousands of baht damage.
As the investigation continues, residents of Chalong are urged to report any suspicious activity and ensure their CCTV systems are working properly.
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