Chonburi, Thailand – June 17, 2025 – In a case of betrayal, a 34-year-old woman from Phitsanulok, Ms. Sudaphon Sungnoen, was left devastated after her trusted neighbor stole her motorcycle. Thanks to swift action by the Bang Lamung Police Station, the culprit was apprehended within hours.
At around 5:30 PM on June 17, a team led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Suphawat Lathapreecha, Deputy Superintendent, and Police Major Pakorn Muenseekhao, along with other officers from the Bang Lamung Police Station’s Special Operations Unit, arrested 31-year-old Mr. Kittitat Boonchan, known as “Tae,” from Lopburi. The arrest took place at a rented house in Thung Krad Village, after Tae stole a motorcycle belonging to his neighbor and hid it in a nearby forested area, intending to sell it.
The incident began earlier that day at approximately 10:17 AM when Ms. Sudaphon woke up to prepare to take her child to school, only to discover that her red-black Honda Wave motorcycle (license plate ขขค 961 Chaiyaphum) parked in front of her home had vanished. She immediately contacted the village technician to review CCTV footage, which revealed a suspect stealing her vehicle. Distraught, she reported the theft to the Banglamung Police Station, providing the CCTV evidence.
By 3:00 PM, police conducted a thorough investigation, analyzing additional CCTV footage in the area. They identified a suspect who was seen breaking into Ms. Sudaphon’s motorcycle and pushing it into the forest at the back of the village. The suspect then returned to a rented house just a few doors away from the victim’s residence. Officers promptly knocked on the door, identified themselves, and arrested Tae. During questioning, he gave inconsistent statements but ultimately confessed to the theft. He admitted he initially planned to sell the motorcycle but, realizing the victim was his neighbor, decided to hide it in the forest with the intention of returning it later. However, the police caught him before he could act on this plan.
Tae further revealed that his motive stemmed from financial desperation. Currently unemployed, having previously worked as a scaffolding technician at Laem Chabang Port, he admitted to struggling with drug addiction, consuming up to five methamphetamine pills daily, in addition to crystal meth. He resorted to theft to fund his daily expenses and drug habit.
Ms. Sudaphon, upon learning of the arrest, visited the police station to express her gratitude to the officers. Fighting back tears, she shared her disbelief that the thief was her neighbor, someone she trusted. “I thought I’d never see my motorcycle again,” she said. “I believe my good deeds brought it back to me. Without it, I’d have to walk my child to school every day.” She was overjoyed that the police resolved the case in just a few hours.
Preliminary tests confirmed Tae’s drug use, as his urine tested positive for narcotics. He was charged with “theft of another’s property at night” and “unlawful consumption of Category 1 narcotics.” He was detained for further investigation and legal proceedings.
The swift response of the Banglamung Police has restored Ms. Sudaphon’s faith in justice, though the sting of her neighbor’s betrayal remains.
