As they say, anything that is not nailed down can be the target of thieves.
@Spigzy

Cambodia News, (Phnom Penh): A man was arrested for the theft of a street light pole, on August 25, 2023 at 12:00 noon, at no. 60 meters, Prek Ta Kong village, Chak Angre Leu commune, Meanchey district, Phnom Penh.
Name: Hem Sopheak, Male, 35 years old, Nationality: Khmer, Occupation: Uncertain, Residence: House No. 158, Prek Ta Kong Village, Sangkat Chak Angre Leu, Khan Meanchey (Detained with drugs).

Story:
On August 25, 2023, at 12:00 noon, the police of Chak Angre Leu Administrative Police Station received information from the electricity staff office that a street light pole had gone missing at 60 meters from Prek Ta Kong village, Chak Angre Leu commune. Khan Meanchey.

After receiving the information, police inspected the film of security cameras on that street until the date of August 21, 2023 at 19:00, when they saw and identified the suspect, Hem Sopheak. On detaining the suspect, police learnt that he received KR 7,700 (less than US$2) in exchange for the light pole.
The suspect is currently being held at the Meanchey Administrative Police Inspectorate to build a case to be sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court for legal proceedings.

Aim higher lad

DeparRudeAnts wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 3:58 pm Aim higher lad

He got ripped off. Surely a whole lamp post is worth more than 7,700 riel. Like, at least 8,000 riel. And how depressing to think that "at least he didn't mug anyone".

Freightdog wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 9:30 pm

CEOCambodiaNews wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 3:18 pm As they say, anything that is not nailed down can be the target of thieves.

Forgive my ignorance, and having not seen the inanimate victim. But isn’t it the nature of street light poles to be placed, nail-like, so to speak?

Or was it just lying about, idle? In which case he might offer as a defence- it was a community service of tidying up. Honest guv’!

Or he knocked it over by mistake, as you do, and then took it away so as not to obstruct the road ?

Anchor Moy wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 5:47 pm

DeparRudeAnts wrote: ↑Sun Sep 03, 2023 3:58 pm Aim higher lad

He got ripped off. Surely a whole lamp post is worth more than 7,700 riel. Like, at least 8,000 riel.

Spoiler:

Or maybe 7,700 is the price of a little bag of meth.

And how depressing to think that "at least he didn't mug anyone".

I bet he spent 10,000R on a tuktuk to take it to the scrap man

Isn’t a light pole connected to electricity? A danger of electrocution (and death) trying to steal it?

Is the thief’s life worth more than 7000 Riel?