KABONG: A suspected cable thief was caught red-handed stripping insulation from stolen electrical cables at the back of his house, just hours after allegedly raiding a water storage plant.
The 28-year-old unemployed man, who has three prior convictions, was arrested by police yesterday (Aug 18) after allegedly stealing cables from the Kabong Water Storage Plant.
Saratok police chief DSP Mathew Manggie said the incident came to light when a Public Works Department (PWD) worker conducting a routine patrol at the plant found discarded cable sheathing along the access road.
“Further inspections found that the plant’s main switch had been tampered with, while armoured cables connected to the water pump were missing.
“Acting on information, a team from the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) tracked down and arrested the suspect at an unnumbered house,” he said.
Police seized two lengths of armoured cable measuring 21 feet and 15.4 feet, along with a red wire cutter believed to have been used in the theft.
Mathew said the suspect later allegedly confessed to entering the water plant alone twice — on Aug 16 and again on Aug 18 — to steal the cables.
“He told police he entered through a gate that had been knocked down behind the plant before cutting wires connected to the main switch and genset room.
“He also allegedly dismantled the main switch in the pump room to remove additional cables before taking the stolen wires home,” he said.
The suspect, who tested positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine, admitted that he stole the cables to fund his drug habit.
The case is being investigated under Section 379 of the Penal Code for theft.
