September 17, 2024 – Police from Photharam Police Station have arrested a major mobile equipment thief who had been targeting mobile tower equipment in Central Thailand, particularly in the western region and Ratchaburi Province. The suspect was apprehended at his residence, where police seized a significant amount of mobile signal control equipment worth several million baht, intended to be refurbished and sold as second-hand. Authorities are continuing their crackdown to dismantle the gang, and its network involved in the illegal sale of telecom equipment on the black market. True Corporation is pursuing legal action and cooperating with local police to address the disturbances caused to the public and the impact on mobile signal services in several areas.
The case involves the theft of equipment from over 10 True Corporation mobile towers in the central region. The most recent incident occurred at a mobile tower near Wat Khanon community in Soi Fa subdistrict, Photharam district, Ratchaburi province. An unknown number of criminals broke in and stole base station equipment, intending to refurbish and sell it on the black market. This has significantly affected many local residents who are unable to use their mobile phones normally.
Following an investigation, the detective team from Photharam Police Station, Ratchaburi province, arrested Mr. Gor (pseudonym), about 40 years old, at his home in Ratchaburi. The suspect confessed when confronted with evidence, including a large amount of stolen mobile tower signal control equipment worth several million baht found at his residence. The equipment was about to be moved to an inter-provincial criminal network. The arrested suspect is considered a key figure in the long-operating theft gang.
True Corporation Plc is pursuing criminal charges in all cases for theft, which is considered a serious offense whether committed by an individual or a group, using vehicles, or occurring at night. This falls under Section 335 of the Penal Code, with penalties of up to 7 years in prison and fines up to 100,000 baht, or both. These criminal charges cannot be settled out of court. Additionally, civil claims for maximum property damages will be pursued.
To prevent future thefts of mobile tower equipment, True Corporation is expediting the installation of additional security systems and CCTV cameras at base stations. The company is also utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) for 24/7 network monitoring through its Business and Network Intelligence Center (BNIC) to quickly detect and resolve issues, minimizing impact on customer services.
Caption: Investigators from Photharam Police Station escorting the suspect (wearing a dark red shirt and handcuffs) to the crime scene and the location where stolen equipment was hidden in Ratchaburi Province.
