A SHOCKING video shows a cable thief falling from the top of a utility pole after being zapped by a high-voltage power line.

Photos show the crook reaching the top of the pole using a ladder.

An innocent onlooker watched from the road below as the thief tried to cut a cable with a tool.

The man fiddled with the cable as he attempted to steal it from the utility pole.

He looks to have successfully removed the cable box as he stops tinkering with the cable.

However, everything went downhill the moment he let go of the box.

The graphic video shows a blinding flash as he made contact with a live wire.

The bright light occurred the moment the man went to stand up.

He immediately went stiff and fell from the top of the pole, colliding with a street light on his way down.

The jaw-dropping footage shows the man’s body slamming down on the tarmac with a dramatic thud.

The person filming mutters coldly: “He died.”

The horrified woman ran towards his slumped body as the footage ended.

The shocking incident occurred on March 13 in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

The cable thief was knocked unconscious by the high-voltage shock, and local media say he was assisted by a nearby security agent.

His condition is unclear, but viewers believe it is likely he died from either the electric shock or the fall.

Cable theft is a recurring problem in Rio de Janeiro and elsewhere in Brazil, NeedToKnow reported.

According to data from Conexis Brasil Digital, more than 5.4 million metres of telecom cables were stolen throughout the country in 2023.

Cable thieves often target aluminum cables or wires from locations such as construction sites, railways, and power grids.

The stolen cables are then sold for its high metal value, causing significant disruptions in service throughout the area.

Cable theft isn’t just a problem in Brazil, it’s a growing issue worldwide.

In the United States, between $1.5 billion and $2 billion per year has been lost due to theft, according to Smart Energy International.

The loss includes the cost of replacing stolen cables, lost productivity, and damages to property.