Father and son arrested for stealing electrical cables to sell as scrap

Police in Can Tho detained a 40-year-old father and charged his 18-year-old son after the pair allegedly stole lighting cables and sold their copper cores as scrap.

The Can Tho police investigation agency said it had prosecuted Le Van Khanh, from Vi Tan Ward, and ordered his pretrial detention. His son, Le Van Nhan, was also charged and placed under a travel ban rather than detained.

Investigators said the two operated at night between late May and June 21. Carrying metal cutters and sacks and travelling by motorbike, they allegedly moved along rural roads in Hoa Luu Commune and cut down lighting cables.

Police said the pair successfully carried out three thefts, taking more than 250 metres of cable. They removed the copper cores and sold them to scrap dealers for more than 2.2 million Vietnamese dong, which they shared and spent.

At about 1 a.m. on June 26, Khanh and Nhan allegedly returned to cut nearly 154 metres of lighting cable on Dong Khoi Road in Thanh Phu hamlet. Hoa Luu commune police detected them and took them to the station, where they admitted the offence, according to the initial investigation.

Authorities valued the more than 400 metres of stolen cable at over 24 million dong. Police said the theft caused property losses, created electrical safety risks and disrupted local daily life and production. The investigation continues.