Pattaya —
A man was arrested in Pattaya for breaking into a police officer’s restaurant and stealing 3,000 baht, only to later realize the restaurant belonged to a narcotics officer.
On September 21st, Banglamung police arrested 23-year-old Mr. Kittichai Sukthanom at a residence in Soi Nong Hin in the Nongprue sub-district, Banglamung district, Chonburi province. Police seized from him a stolen Bluetooth speaker and a blue Honda Wave motorcycle used in the escape after the crime.
According to the police, Mr. Kittichai was suspected of breaking into a restaurant in the early hours of September 19th. He then stole 3,000 baht in cash from a Kathin donation tree inside the restaurant, along with a Bluetooth speaker. However, the suspect did not realize the restaurant belonged to a narcotics officer in the area, which ultimately led to his swift arrest.
Mr. Kittichai reportedly confessed to breaking into the restaurant and stealing money from the donation tree. He admitted he was unaware at first that the restaurant was owned by a police officer.
After the story broke in the news, the suspect realized that the restaurant belonged to an officer from the local narcotics unit, who had also previously arrested someone he knew. Fearing capture, he believed he wouldn’t evade arrest, which soon came when officers raided his residence.
Upon reviewing his criminal history, police found that Mr. Kittichai had been previously arrested for drug-related offenses and theft from a coffee shop owned by the provincial governor in Pattaya two years ago. He had only been out of prison for a year but quickly returned to crime. He is now in police custody.
