Thai police arrest delivery rider for phone theft, uncover past crimes

Thai police apprehended a delivery rider accused of snatching a woman’s mobile phone, revealing a history of four prior criminal charges in Uttaradit.

Officers from Phayathai Police Station received a report from a female victim on August 24 that a thief had stolen her white iPhone 8 Plus on Banthadthong Road near Chang Hotel in Phetchaburi, Bangkok. Investigations led by Police Colonel Watcharawee Thammasema and Deputy Police Lieutenant Colonel Trin Onnim involved reviewing CCTV footage, which captured the suspect wearing a pink jacket and a black helmet, riding an unidentified blue motorcycle.

Further investigation identified the suspect as Thongchai, who resides in an alley near Jarunee School in Phetchaburi. With sufficient evidence, an arrest warrant was issued.

Yesterday, September 11, the Phayathai investigative team successfully arrested Thongchai in the alley near Jarunee School. Thongchai confessed to the theft, citing financial difficulties as the motive. Currently employed as a delivery rider, he admitted to another phone-snatching incident in Phayathai on August 18. Following his arrest, Thongchai was taken into custody for legal proceedings, reported KhaoSod.

Background checks on Thongchai revealed he had previously faced four criminal charges. In 2016, he was charged with theft under criminal case 808/2559 and drug use while driving under case 809/2559, both in Mueang Uttaradit. Additionally, he faced another theft charge in the same year under case 816/2559 and an embezzlement charge in 2013 under case 1072/2556.

In related news, a man from Ayutthaya was arrested by the Pattaya Tourist Police for allegedly stealing a tourist’s iPhone on a ferry to Koh Larn. Identified as 52 year old Somchai Buengnok, the suspect has an extensive criminal record.

At approximately 10.30am on September 8, Senior Inspector of Tourist Police Division 4, Police Lieutenant Colonel Piyapong Ensan, received a report from 37 year old Nicha, a tourist who claimed her iPhone had been stolen.

Nicha reported that while on the ferry to Koh Larn, a Thai man around 50 years old befriended her. Upon arriving at Hat Ta Waen Beach, she discovered her phone was missing and suspected the man she had spoken with.