Bang pakong: Police arrested a young man who stole a motorcycle within an hour. A tense chase ensued across four districts as authorities pursued a gang of motorcycle thieves. The suspects, who had installed GPS trackers, were apprehended within an hour. They claimed to feel sorry for the owners but explained that if they didn't steal, they wouldn't have money to pay for rent and buy drugs.
According to Thai News Agency, police in Bang Pakong District, Chachoengsao Province, apprehended a suspect after receiving a report at 8 PM last night from Ms. Boonmuk, 22, that her motorcycle, parked at the Bang Pakong Walking Street market, had been stolen. The motorcycle was equipped with a GPS tracker, which led to a house in Bang Khla District, a cockfighting arena. Upon entering, officers found Mr. Atthapol, 39, who quickly fled into a room and locked the door. Police broke down the door and arrested him, along with the stolen motorcycle which was found inside the room, ready to be dismantled.
In the house, another motorcycle was found that Atthapol and his friend had stolen two months prior. His accomplice was not present. Initial investigations revealed that Atthapol had stolen several motorcycles in the Bang Pakong district. After obtaining the motorcycles, he would quickly remove the license plates and other parts, then post them for sale on Facebook for approximately 10,000 baht. He would then split the money with his friend and use it to buy drugs.
Ms. Boonmuk was very happy to get her car back, saying she had only recently bought it and installed a GPS tracker because she was afraid it would be stolen. She also praised the police for their quick work, stating they caught the culprit in less than an hour.
Authorities are urgently pursuing the accomplice and the remaining vehicle used in the crime. This morning, police brought Mr. Atthapol to identify the vehicle used in the crime and are conducting further questioning to track down approximately 4-5 more motorcycles that Mr. Atthapol and his friends allegedly stole. Mr. Atthapol stated that he felt sorry for the motorcycle owners but said that if he didn't commit the thefts, he wouldn't have money to pay for his rent and buy drugs. Therefore, the authorities are charging him with jointly committing theft at night using a vehicle, and are actively searching for Mr. Atthapol's accomplices. The stolen motorcycles will be returned to the victims today.