Cable thieves emerge from the shadows
KUALA LUMPUR: Once content with operating under cover of darkness, cable thieves are becoming increasingly brazen, stripping valuable copper from the nation’s infrastructure in broad daylight — sometimes in full view of passing motorists and residents. What was once associated with secluded railway tracks and poorly guarded infrastructure has evolved into organised operations targeting…
Cable thieves in Malaysia are increasingly brazen, targeting telecommunications networks, electricity installations, and other public utilities in broad daylight. This shift in tactics marks a significant escalation from their previous covert operations in secluded areas. The brazen nature of these thefts was evident last Friday when four masked men were captured on video pulling out underground cables in Kampung Melayu Panchor, Seremban, around noon.
The incident led to the arrest of 14 people, including two women, and the seizure of five cars, cable-cutting equipment, and three sacks of burnt copper wires. Police believe these arrests solved several cable theft cases in Negri Sembilan, Selangor, Kedah, and Melaka. The financial incentive for these syndicates is substantial, with copper prices in Malaysia ranging from RM56 to RM60 per kilogramme.
The growing demand for copper in expanding networks, renewable energy installations, data centres, and the electric vehicle industry has made these thefts a lucrative venture for the criminals.
Brief written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
