Pattaya —
A 53-year-old hotel housekeeper in Pattaya had her motorcycle stolen, leading police to uncover a possible cross-border motorbike theft network.
On September 24th, Ms. Prapaiporn (last name withheld upon request), a 53-year-old hotel housekeeper in Pattaya, filed a report with Banglamung police after her gray Honda Wave 100 motorcycle that was stolen from the front of her residence in Soi Nong Ket Yai 2, Nong Pla Lai sub-district, Banglamung district, Chonburi province. Police immediately launched an investigation and reviewed over 10 CCTV cameras to track down the suspect.
On September 25th, police ultimately traced the suspect, identified as 30-year-old Mr. Ritthichai Petchdin, to a bungalow in Soi Naklua 16. During the arrest, police also seized nine methamphetamine pills from his room and a drug test showed he tested positive for meth.
Upon interrogation, Mr. Ritthichai admitted to stealing the motorcycle and hiding it in the Tung Krad area in Banglamung. He further confessed that he received an order from a man named Phong who offered to pay him 4,000 baht per one Honda Wave motorbike, so he could re-sell it in Laos.
Once he received the order, Mr. Ritthichai would search for victims, steal the motorcycles, and deliver them to a pickup truck for transport to Nakhon Phanom province, to be smuggled across the border to Laos. Mr. Ritthichai, who had been previously convicted of stealing over 40 motorcycles and imprisoned for more than 13 years, had just been released in 2021.
Police later set up a sting operation at the Tung Krad area in Banglamung district to catch the delivery truck driver. A black Toyota Revo pickup then arrived to pick up two stolen motorcycles.
The driver, identified as 39-year-old Mr. Dechnarong Changsue, was subsequently arrested. He claimed he usually worked as a delivery driver in Bangkok for a solar panel company but had been pressured by a regular customer to deliver the motorcycles to Pluak Daeng district in Rayong province for 1,200 baht per bike. He claimed he was unaware the motorcycles were stolen.
Pol. Lt. Col. Suchart Dusadee, Deputy Superintendent of Investigation at Banglamung Police Station, revealed that this operation unexpectedly uncovered a large motorcycle theft network operating in Thailand and neighboring countries. The investigation team is now working to expand the investigation and bring the entire network to justice.
Mr. Ritthichai has been charged with theft and possession of a Category 1 drug. Mr. Dechnarong has been charged with receiving stolen property. Both suspects have been handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
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