Prosecutors have indicted a cable theft ring for stealing from a TSMC construction site. Three men allegedly took more than 4.5 kilometers of copper wiring. The Chiayi District Prosecutors’ Office issued the indictment yesterday. The stolen cable sold for nearly NT$5 million at recycling facilities. Consequently, this cable theft ring operated with careful planning and inside knowledge. A 29-year-old subcontractor named Chuang allegedly orchestrated the entire scheme. His two employees, Hsueh and Hung, participated as active accomplices. The thefts targeted TSMC’s advanced packaging plant in Chiayi County.
The scheme first came to light on the night of March 2. Hsueh drove a rented truck into the construction site. He told security guards he needed to move some tools. Because of his familiarity with the guards, they let him enter easily. Chuang and Hung hid in the truck bed during this process. The three men then used hydraulic cutters to steal about 600 meters of cable. However, a patrolling guard noticed the large cable load on the truck. He immediately called for backup from other security personnel. As Chuang tried to flee, he drove the truck toward the guards. The guards had to jump aside to avoid being hit. The truck then crashed through security gate equipment and escaped. Consequently, this cable theft ring showed reckless disregard for human safety.
Police later tracked down the suspects using surveillance footage. The men had sold the stolen cable to a recycling facility in Pingtung County. Authorities arrested all three after reviewing the evidence. Prosecutors requested detention for Chuang and Hsueh. The court released Hung instead. The suspects confessed to eight cable thefts dating back to December last year. They only admitted guilt after seeing recycling receipts and rental records. Prosecutors believe this cable theft ring may have committed even more heists. Records from two recycling facilities showed 29 transactions since October. Those transactions generated more than NT$4.97 million in illegal proceeds.
The indictment recommends prison sentences for all three defendants. Prosecutors seek 10 years for Chuang and Hsueh each. They request nine years and six months for Hung. This cable theft ring caused significant disruption to TSMC’s construction timeline. The company has since increased security at the Chiayi County site. Police have also stepped up patrols around major construction zones. The case highlights growing metal theft problems across Taiwan. Copper prices remain high in international markets. Recyclers must now verify the origin of materials more carefully.
Lawmakers may introduce tougher penalties for infrastructure theft. Meanwhile, TSMC declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings. Construction work continues without further incidents. The court will schedule a trial date in the coming weeks. Industry observers note that such thefts can delay chip factory openings. Therefore, semiconductor companies now invest more in perimeter security. This cable theft ring serves as a warning to other potential criminals.
