Three Teenagers Arrested for Stealing Over 100kg of Electrical Wire
Three teenagers were arrested in Chiang Mai for stealing over 100kg of electrical wire from an abandoned hotel, which they cut and sold to second-hand shops using a ride-hailing app.
Investigators from Hang Dong Police Station in Chiang Mai, working with officers from Chang Phueak Police Station and other units, arrested three suspects at a second-hand goods shop in Chang Phueak subdistrict, Muang district, Chiang Mai on August 18. The arrests followed a tip-off about theft of water pumps in the Hang Dong area, leading police to track down the group attempting to sell stolen goods.
The three suspects are Chai, 20; Moo, 21; and A (alias), 15. During interrogation, they admitted to stealing not only water pumps but also electrical wiring from an abandoned hotel in Chang Phueak subdistrict. They would cut the wire and use a ride-hailing app to have it transported to second-hand shops. On August 16, they sold over 100 kilograms of wire, and were attempting to sell an additional 40 kilograms when police apprehended them with the stolen goods.
Police examining the suspects' mobile phones discovered videos showing the group cutting electrical wire inside the abandoned hotel while rap-singing hip-hop lyrics, proudly showcasing their crimes. The suspects also revealed that while stealing at the hotel, they encountered another theft gang stealing electrical appliances. The two groups negotiated and agreed to divide the area to avoid conflict before police arrested them and filed criminal charges.
