Col Salan had met with key figures in the area, including Phongchai Munrin, Director of the Phuket Air Traffic Control Centre, Phuket Provincial Police reported in a statement posted online late yesterday (Sept 10).
At the meeting it became apparent that the power cables were stolen sometime at night on Aug 25, and the criminals returned to break in and cut communication cables connected to Phuket Air Traffic Control Centre sometime at night on Aug 30. The total damage was given as B50,172.30.
Phuket Air Traffic Control Centre did not report any effect on their ability to safely perform their function in guiding aircraft taking off and landing at Phuket airport.
Further, a formal complaint about the theft was not filed with the Sakhu Police until last Thursday (Sept 7), Phuket Provincial Police reported.
The formal complaint was filed only after photos of a notice asking people to not steal cables from the area were posted across social media and through local Thai-language news platforms, Phuket Provincial Police added in their statement.
Regardless, Sakhu Police Chief Pol Col Salan was ordered to collect evidence and follow up to quickly arrest the culprits and prosecute them.
At the meeting with key local figures, Col Salan set up a rapid mobile team to identify immediately when an incident is reported or a suspicious person is found, and to increase the frequency of patrols in the area, Phuket Provincial Police said.
Officers are to inspect the operating status of CCTV cameras along the roads leading to the Phuket Air Traffic Control Centre, and to coordinate with local community leaders and air traffic control officials (Aerothai Phuket) to keep an eye out to help prevent any further thefts.
Phuket Provincial Police said their were now in the process of tracking down the thieves.
“We are accelerating the process. If there is progress or the criminal is arrested and prosecuted, we will inform you at the next opportunity,” the statement concluded.