AC Technician Couple Arrested for Stealing Copper, Parts from Vacant Home
A married couple working as air-conditioner technicians were arrested for breaking into vacant homes and stealing copper piping, wiring, and AC components to sell for cash. Police caught them in a pickup without license plates near a previous crime scene; both tested positive for methamphetamine and confessed due to financial pressures. They face charges of theft using a vehicle and drug offenses.
A husband-and-wife air-conditioning repair team who drove a pickup truck to steal copper pipes, wiring, and AC components from vacant homes were arrested by police in the early hours of October 21, 2026. At 03:30, officers led by Pol. Lt. Col. Kamponat Arunkiriroj, Pol. Col. Pongchak Chakcharoen, Pol. Col. Phonthawi Somwong, and Pol. Lt. Col. Phonkrit Thippayathananont from Chok Chai Police Station apprehended Pricha, 47, and Miss Wantip, 34, along with four AC coils, three kilograms of copper wire, four kilograms of copper piping, two kilograms of unstripped wire, and six iron AC frames concealed in white plastic sacks.
The investigation began on October 19 when a victim reported a burglary at an empty house. Police identified the suspects and their vehicle from surveillance footage captured around 08:00 that morning. Two days later, Pol. Lt. Natthaphong Suphphan and Pol. Sgt. Maj. Kiattisak Naksombun spotted the same unregistered pickup parked near the crime scene. The couple exhibited suspicious behavior; a search of their persons found nothing illegal, but a further search of the truck bed uncovered the stolen AC parts.
During questioning, both confessed to the theft, citing financial hardship — Pricha worked as a freelance AC installer, had no installation jobs, and could not afford his truck payments. They admitted targeting unoccupied homes to sell the copper and parts for cash. Police charged the husband with joint theft using a vehicle to facilitate the crime or escape, plus driving under the influence of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) and illegal use of a Category 1 narcotic. The wife was charged with joint theft using a vehicle and illegal use of a Category 1 narcotic. Both were handed over to Chok Chai Police Station investigators for further legal proceedings.
