Criminals Rampantly Steal Electrical Transformers, Strip Copper for Sale in Satthahip; Nearly One Million Baht in Damages as Residents Fear Rising Accidents
Criminal gangs are systematically stealing electrical transformers and stripping copper wiring for resale in Satthahip, Chonburi, with repeated thefts causing nearly one million baht in damages and creating dangerous traffic hazards from da
Chonburi — Authorities in Satthahip District, Chonburi Province are investigating a series of electrical transformer thefts that have become rampant along local highways. The latest incident was discovered near Pa Daeng Brewery on Highway 332 in Plu Ta Laung Subdistrict, where officials found the stripped remains of a transformer that had been dismantled and left behind after thieves removed all internal copper components.
Ekacha Muang Prathum, head of the Satthahip Senior Highway Division, coordinated with Lieutenant Colonel Wuthipong Somjai, superintendent of Plu Ta Laung Police Station, along with Chaanchai Nit Sinthu, subdistrict chief, and the investigation team to examine the site. Inspectors found that the transformer had been removed from its pole and placed on the ground with all copper wiring stolen, leaving only an empty shell. Tools used in the theft, including a saw and wire hooks used to cut electrical lines and disable power before dismantling, were also discovered.
Officials noted that such incidents occur frequently in the Satthahip area, causing streetlights to go dark and creating serious traffic hazards. The same location has been targeted twice before, inflicting approximately one million baht in damages to state property.
Local residents report that power outages happen regularly, particularly on main roads, leading to traffic accidents with multiple fatalities. They are calling on police to urgently arrest the perpetrators, emphasizing that these crimes not only damage government infrastructure but also pose serious risks to public safety and property in the area.
