A man believed to be actively involved in stealing Sabah Electricity cables in Pitas was arrested after being found in possession of 12 kilogrammes of copper, suspected to be stripped from stolen cables, during an early morning raid on Wednesday.
In the 12.30am operation at Kampung Salimpodon Laut, police also seized a bag containing copper believed to have been obtained from illegally stripped electrical cables.
Kota Marudu district police chief Supt Simiun Lomudin said the arrest was made by the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) of the Kota Marudu district police headquarters following a tip-off from the public.
He said the local man, aged 30, from Kampung Maringgan, Pitas, was believed to be actively involved in cable theft targeting Sabah Electricity infrastructure in the Telaga area.
In a broader context, authorities have repeatedly warned that cable theft not only causes significant financial losses to utility providers but also disrupts essential services and poses safety risks to the public.
Police also recovered a bag containing 12kg of copper, believed to be from stolen cables that had not yet been sold.
The suspect was taken to the police station for further action, while a urine test found him positive for methamphetamine.
The case is being investigated under Section 431A of the Penal Code for mischief involving public property.
He will also be remanded under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code to assist investigations.
Police thanked the public for providing information that led to the arrest, stressing the importance of community cooperation in combating crime.
