Man Arrested for Cutting Highway Power Lines Across Three Districts
A 40-year-old man was arrested after a 55-day stakeout on Highway 24 in Ubon Ratchathani for systematically cutting power lines across three districts since May, causing traffic accidents and widespread blackouts.
On August 9, 2024, Highway Police Region 4, Group 6 jointly with the Ubon Ratchathani Department of Highways arrested Somsak (surname withheld), age 40, on charges of theft of public property used for lighting along highways, nighttime offenses involving a vehicle, and possession of methamphetamine. The suspect was caught at kilometer 401 on Highway 24 in Warinchamrab district at approximately 12:30 a.m. on August 4 after a 55-day stakeout operation.
Since May 2024, criminals had been systematically cutting streetlights along highways in Decho Udom, Nayia, and Buntharik districts, causing widespread blackouts spanning tens of kilometers. These incidents resulted in traffic accidents, injuries, deaths, and significant damage to government infrastructure, with over 36 cases filed across multiple areas. Police and highway officials launched a coordinated task force using heat-map analysis to identify patterns and establish surveillance at high-risk locations.
The suspect operated alone, carefully avoiding security cameras and hiding his motorcycle in dense vegetation before cutting cables in just 5–10 minutes. Officers apprehended him as he attempted to cut power lines, discovering wire cutters, climbing equipment, and stolen copper wire at the scene. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered modified tools, large quantities of stripped copper wire, drug paraphernalia, and evidence confirming a pattern of repeated criminal activity.
