WATER meter thieves struck again in southern Hat Yai city stealing the devices from 13 houses with local police admitting that they have been receiving reports of such thefts occurring in many areas, TV Channel 7 and MNG Online said today (Dec. 2).
Residents of 13 houses in Soi 3 and 5 off Rat Uthit road and in Soi Pracha Uthit, which are in the same area, found upon waking up this morning that there was no tap water in their bathrooms. They initially thought it was a plumbing problem or that they forgot to pay their water bill.
However upon inspection they found that the water meter had been stolen.
These thieves smashed the water pipes then removed the meters from houses that had not installed a safety grille. They then sell the brass they are made of and pocket the money.
Mr. Prasit Suanyen, one of the residents hit by this theft, said he had read reports of water meters being stolen but did not think his house would be hit so did not install a safety grille.
Now he is among residents in his alley who are in trouble with no tap water to use while having to pay for running a new pipeline.
Hat Yai police station said they are tracking down these thieves after receiving many reports of water meters being stolen. They are going through surveillance camera clips and also asking antique shops whether the culprits had sold the stolen meters to them.
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A resident shows where the thieves stole his water meter with an image of the device inset. Photo: MNG Online
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