Chiang Mai gold necklace thief caught in traffic hold-up
A brazen thief who snatched a gold necklace from a popular shopping centre in Chiang Mai was apprehended at an intersection after attempting to evade capture. The suspect, who had tried to blend in by changing clothes, was eventually caught in traffic.
Yesterday, November 5, a gold necklace weighing 1 baht was stolen from the Mangkhorn Thong Yaowarat jewellery store located in the Central Airport Plaza, Chiang Mai. The bold theft occurred around noon. The suspect, identified as 33 year old Natthaphon, was captured by traffic police stationed at the airport intersection near the shopping centre where the theft took place.
The suspect attempted to flee in a bronze-grey Toyota Vios, which matched the description provided to the police. After being stuck at a red light, the traffic police approached the vehicle and asked the suspect to step out for a search.
Natthaphon had already changed his clothes, likely in an attempt to avoid detection. Following the arrest, the police contacted the Phuping Ratchaniwet Police Station in Chiang Mai to take him into custody. The Deputy Commissioner of Provincial Police Region 5, Weerachon Boontawee, personally questioned the suspect.
According to initial investigations, police reviewed CCTV footage from the jewellery store and the shopping centre. The footage revealed that the suspect used the Toyota Vios as his getaway vehicle.
After committing the theft, he lingered within the shopping centre and changed clothes in a restroom. When the police checked the surveillance footage, it was clear that the suspect had not yet left the premises. This led to setting up a checkpoint at the airport intersection, where the suspect was eventually caught due to the traffic congestion, reported KhaoSod.
“After the incident, our team acted swiftly, analysing the CCTV footage which gave us a clear picture of the suspect’s movements,” said an officer involved in the case. “We set up a checkpoint at a strategic location which led to the successful apprehension.”
