Pattaya, Thailand – November 4th, 2025– A brazen gas cylinder thief was apprehended by vigilant residents in the early hours of Monday morning, thanks to newly installed CCTV cameras that captured his movements and prevented a second theft in the same area.
The incident happened at approximately 3:00 a.m. on November 4th, inside Soi Bongkot 2. Pattaya City Police Station received a report from good Samaritans who had detained the suspect after catching him in the act. Officers from the station’s patrol unit rushed to the scene to investigate.
Upon arrival, police found a group of residents holding the man in custody. The suspect, who provided evasive and inconsistent responses during initial questioning, was immediately taken to Pattaya City Police Station for further interrogation.
The victim, 47-year-old Noppadol Hunthongkul, described to The Pattaya News the events leading to the arrest. He explained that a gas cylinder had been stolen from his shop near the incident site the previous day. At that time, no CCTV cameras were installed, making it impossible to identify the culprit.
Determined to prevent further losses, Noppadol installed security cameras that same morning. The footage revealed the thief’s suspicious behavior: he had returned to the area, loitering and scouting for another opportunity. Late that night, residents spotted the man wandering in the soi again. They followed him discreetly until he entered a nearby alley, where he attempted to steal another gas cylinder from a neighboring house.
Noppadol and his neighbors quickly intervened, subduing the suspect and alerting the authorities. “We saw him on the cameras acting strangely, and when he went for the tank, we grabbed him right away,” Noppadol said.
Police have detained the suspect for detailed questioning, but he has continued to give conflicting statements, refusing to provide his name, origin, or any personal details. Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to establish the full circumstances of the crime and any potential links to prior incidents. Legal proceedings will follow in accordance with Thai law.
