The thefts were reported to police by TOT representative Issaren Wongsukkasem.
The first incident saw 35 meters of cable valued at B15,195 cut from along the Paklangship – Baan Para Rd on the night of Sunday, May 7, reported Capt Pichit Thongtor of the Thalang Police.
“Then, on May 8, another 50 meters of cable worth B27,026.05 was stolen in Moo 3 Pa Khlok,” he added.
That, however, was when the the thieves came unstuck. The three culprits were caught on CCTV carrying out the theft just before dawm
“A pickup can be seen arriving at the scene, with the driver wearing a grey shirt and his passengers wearing blue shirts,” Capt Pichit noted.
“They used a ladder and get up to get the cable, and after cutting it down they put it into the back of the pickup and drove off. They took only 10 minutes,” he said.
Police tracked down the pickup to a nearby worker’s camp of Sompong Engineering and Service, which is contracted to carry out cable services for True Move.
Police also found discarded cuttings of plastic cable casing near the men’s accommodation.
Officers placed Suriaya Talad, 37; Pisit Neuntao, 43, and Thongluan Prabnok, 32, under arrest and subsequently charged the men for the thefts.
Police are continuing their investigation and have yet to locate the stolen cables.