THE owners of a farmhouse suffered a double whammy as thieves had completely ransacked the property after floodwaters receded with total damage estimated at over 200,000 baht, Amarin TV said this evening (Oct. 18).
Mrs. Usa Mittasawan, 49, said she and her husband, who works in Chonburi, usually stay at this farmhouse, spanning around four rai, in Ban Phra subdistrict, Mueang district, Prachin Buri province, from Friday to Sunday. They had purchased the property 12 years ago and it is their retreat where they grow trees.
Reporters from this television channel visited the property and saw that it had been thoroughly searched and looted. It is believed the perpetrators broke in through a rear door before rummaging through the premises for valuables.
An inspection revealed that air-conditioning units had been dismantled to remove copper and tradable electronic components. A refrigerator was smashed to extract its compressor and copper parts. Other items, including a welding machine, various electrical appliances, and electric fans, were also dismantled for their internal components. Furthermore, all electrical wiring and wall sockets throughout the house had been stripped.
In an outdoor storage area, a water pump, a lawnmower, a sprayer, and other tradeable equipment were also stolen. It is suspected that the thieves may have parked a vehicle along the new Route 33, then accessed the property by walking through the farm, using a steel beam as a makeshift bridge to cross a drainage ditch, which is less than 50 metres from the farmhouse.
Before the incident, floodwaters rose around the house, making it inaccessible for over a month. When inundation finally subsided, the couple returned to check the property, only to be shocked by what they found: the house had been ransacked, and nearly all their belongings—including a 58-inch television, a computer, air-conditioners, a refrigerator, and other electrical appliances—had been smashed or stolen. Even the electrical wiring had been stripped from the walls, rendering the house uninhabitable.
Visibly distressed, Mrs. Usa remarked that the flooding had already caused significant hardship, and this theft has only made life even more difficult. While she and her husband may be able to manage, she noted that for others who have been severely affected by the floods, such an incident would only compound their suffering.
Furthermore, the owners must now urgently replace essential equipment such as water pumps and electrical wiring, to restore the property’s functionality. The four-rai plot contains numerous durian and other fruit trees that require care for recovery from the floods; if the water system and necessary infrastructure cannot be restored, the trees and the potential harvest could be at risk. This has placed an additional financial burden on them, as they have to cope with losses from both flooding and theft.
The couple has filed a report with the Mueang Prachin Buri police station. This afternoon, investigators, accompanied by forensic officers, arrived at the scene to conduct an inspection and collect fingerprints, which will serve as evidence to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.
Beyond the direct damage caused to the homeowner, this incident further victimises people who have just endured a major flood crisis. It is hoped that the authorities will act swiftly to apprehend the perpetrators, helping to restore a sense of security for residents as they begin to return to their homes and rebuild their lives in the aftermath of the floods.
CAPTION:
This and Front Page: The badly ransacked farmhouse. Photos – Amarin TV
Also read:
Thailand secures $200 million World Bank loan to develop low-carbon cities
Anutin and Thammanat dine at an Indian restaurant amid talk of joining coalition
Rukchanok says no to Bhumjaithai dissolution due to Suchada’s ill-gotten donations
One policeman dead in fierce clash in Narathiwat
Assembly of the Poor issues 6 demands before ending anti-IMF protest
Election Commission urged to see if Suchada’s cash donated to Bhumjaithai was ill-gotten gains
IMF: Global food crisis hitting 260 million poor people hard
Censure debate scheduled for four days during final week of this month
Thailand keeps close watch on China’s airbase upgrading project in Laos
Thai GL: From Screen Romance to a Global Phenomenon — And the Price of Success
Floods:
20 provinces plus parts of Bangkok still flooded
Villagers hang motorcycles from trees to protect them from floodwaters
1.64 million SMEs at risk from floods as liquidity concerns mount
Huge spillway project proposed to fight critical floodings in the long run
