PHETCHABUN – Police are hunting for brazen thieves who unbolted and stole long stretches of metal guardrails on the uphill road to Khao Kho, leaving drivers and locals in fear. With parts of the road now open to steep drops and forest, many feel they are driving into danger without any barrier.
Rubbish dumping along the same route has also increased, and residents are urging officials to act before a serious accident happens.
On Saturday, local media reported that a Facebook user had shared photos and a warning about a shortcut road from Bueng Namtao subdistrict in Lom Sak district to Khao Kho district in Phetchabun.
This road runs through Khao Kho National Park and should have metal guardrails installed by the Department of Highways along the outside of the road, especially on sharp bends.
Recently, however, large sections of these guardrails have been removed. Whole panels have disappeared at several points, most likely stolen for sale as scrap metal. The theft has left many gaps in the guardrail system, with only the posts still in place in some areas.
In a few spots, thieves unscrewed the bolts and left them scattered across the road surface, adding another hazard for passing vehicles.
People who use this mountain route worry that, without guardrails, drivers face a high risk of serious accidents, especially if a car loses control on a bend. The original poster strongly criticised the thieves, saying they cared only about the money from selling the stolen guardrails and ignored the danger they were creating for everyone who drives on that road.
Reporters who went to inspect the area found that many guardrail panels and safety rails were missing along several sections. Driving there at night or in heavy fog now requires extreme care, because there is no metal barrier to mark or protect the edge of the road or the curves. One mistake could send a vehicle straight down the slope.
Police at Khao Kho Police Station, which covers the area, said they have not yet received any reports of injuries or accidents linked to the missing guardrails. No agency has formally filed a complaint about the thefts either. Attempts to contact the unit responsible for maintaining the guardrails were not successful, as the report came in during a public holiday.
The road is facing another serious problem, too. Along the same stretch, people have been illegally dumping large amounts of rubbish. Some of it is tied up in black bin bags and deliberately hidden with branches and leaves. The waste looks fresh, so it was likely dumped only recently.
Residents say the volume of rubbish is far beyond what villagers in the area would normally produce. The fact that most of it is packed in black bags makes them suspect it might come from some resorts or careless tourists with no sense of responsibility.
Earlier, the Khao Kho Subdistrict Administrative Organisation (SAO) sent staff to clear the rubbish and clean the roadside. They also put up warning signs and even signs cursing anyone who dumped waste there. For a while, the area stayed clean, but people with no conscience soon started leaving rubbish again. Over time, even the “no dumping” signs vanished.
Villagers and regular road users are now asking all related agencies to step in quickly. They want the stolen guardrails replaced and repaired to their original condition, and they want firm action against illegal dumping along this important mountain route.
Police Apprehend House Robber
In other police news, Chiang Mai officers arrested a man from Tak on a burglary charge, caught with stolen valuables, and the bicycle used to flee the scene. He is accused of burglary, and officers seized several high-value items as evidence.
On Saturday night, investigators from Chiang Mai Provincial Police, under the supervision of Pol Maj Gen Pracha Thitla, arrested Mr Siriwat (surname withheld), aged 49, from Nakhon Sawan province. He was detained on Mueang Road near Tha Phae Gate in Sri Phum subdistrict, Mueang district, Chiang Mai.
Confiscated items included a pair of diamond earrings worth 25,000 baht, a diamond ring worth 20,000 baht, Dior earrings worth 17,000 baht, 5,000 baht in cash, and a Dell Ultra laptop worth 32,000 baht.
The arrest followed a report of a house break-in at a rented home on Chang Moi Road, Soi 3, in Chang Moi subdistrict, Mueang district. The house is rented by five people. On the evening of 10 December 2025, all of them went out and returned around 9 pm, only to find several belongings missing.
CCTV footage from the area showed that at about 4.59 pm, an unknown man climbed over the front fence of the property. He wore a black hooded jacket with white stripes, brown cargo trousers, and flip-flops. He first tried to open a side door but failed. He then walked to the back of the house and forced open a window to get inside and steal valuables.
After the burglary, the suspect unplugged a security camera and adjusted its angle, clearly trying to avoid being identified and to destroy evidence. Even so, the video still captured his clothing and movements.
Investigators followed the trail and on 12 December 2025, around 10 pm, spotted a man who matched the suspect’s appearance riding a bicycle near Tha Phae Gate on Thapae Road in Sri Phum subdistrict. His behaviour raised suspicion, so officers approached him, identified themselves, and carried out a search. The man was confirmed to be Mr Siriwat.
During the search, police found a pair of diamond earrings valued at 25,000 baht, a diamond ring worth 20,000 baht, Dior earrings worth 17,000 baht, and 5,000 baht in cash hidden in the right pocket of his trousers. Officers later discovered the stolen Dell Ultra laptop concealed behind a toilet area in Buppharam Temple on Thapae Road.
Police arrested Mr Siriwat on the spot, informed him of the charges and his legal rights, and took him into custody for further questioning and prosecution.
