Satun Police Arrest Two for Stealing Cell Tower Cables
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Satun — In a well-executed operation, provincial police investigators led by Pol. Lt. Col. Sek Sitthiprat, acting on orders from Provincial Police Commander Pol. Maj. Gen. Nipon Mesalahmad, apprehended two suspects red-handed while they were cutting cables from a mobile phone signal tower opposite Wat Khuan Khanun in Khuan Khanun district.
A recent spate of high-altitude cable thefts across the province prompted plainclothes officers to stake out tower sites. They spotted a white pickup parked discreetly near the tower, located in a dense forest area, and saw two men climbing dozens of meters up the structure. To the casual observer, they looked like legitimate maintenance technicians.
Officers moved in and used a psychological tactic, shouting up, "Are you here to repair it?" One climber confidently replied, "Just collecting the job!" Police played along with an "Okay," then waited quietly until both men descended. The moment their feet touched the ground, officers moved in and detained them.
The suspects were identified as Sarawut, 30, and Asan, 21, both from Khuan Lang subdistrict, Hat Yai district, Songkhla province. Police seized a full kit of cutting tools including ropes, cable cutters, and hammers — more than 20 items in total.
Investigation revealed both men were former employees of a mobile network company, giving them expert knowledge of tower climbing and cable systems. They had already struck at three locations — in Chalung, Khuan Khan, and Ban Tha Sila — before being caught at this fourth site in Khuan Khanun.
Police believe the gang was not simply selling copper to ordinary scrap yards but fulfilling specific orders for a group seeking this specialized cable material. Investigators are now expanding the probe to identify the masterminds and buyers. Coordinating with the telecom company to assess damages, police have charged the pair with joint theft involving destruction of property protection barriers and will proceed with legal action.
