Nongprue police dismantle large-scale motorbike theft operation

Pattaya yesterday witnessed the successful dismantling of a large-scale motorbike theft operation, as Nongprue police apprehended four suspects. The arrest, which was a result of a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Nongprue Police Station, managed to pull the plug on an intricate network of motorbike thieves and illegal resellers.

The investigation’s initial breakthrough occurred with the arrest of Phumrin Kesmala, a 22 year old known as “Mon,” who was originally apprehended on drug-related charges. During his interrogation, police discovered Phumrin’s previous involvement in motorcycle theft.

Officers expanded their investigation based on this information, which led them to discover that Phumrin had been using a messaging application to share images of stolen bikes.

These images matched with motorbikes reported missing in the Chon Buri and Pattaya regions. Using this pivotal information, police identified another 22 year old suspect, Apirat Sosungnoen, also known as “Ice.” Apirat, positioned as a middleman in the operation, was found to be purchasing stolen motorcycles from Phumrin and reselling them to migrant workers.

Upon being confronted by the police, Apirat attempted to escape in a Mitsubishi Triton pickup truck, even crashing into police vehicles in his attempt to evade arrest. His flight was, however, short-lived as he was soon taken into custody.

The investigative trail led Nongprue police to a condominium in Samut Prakan province, where they recovered nine motorcycles believed to have been sold by Apirat. At Apirat’s residence, the police discovered numerous motorbike parts and an additional four stolen bikes.

A strategic setup was then planned by the police, where they had Apirat contact his friend to buy stolen motorcycles. This led to the arrest of the third suspect, 29-year-old Phanudet Srisawat at the designated meeting location.

The fourth suspect, 39 year old Burmese national Rin Rin, was arrested for buying a stolen motorbike.

In total, the police managed to recover over 14 stolen motorbikes along with various parts. An 18 year old man, who chose to remain anonymous, was present at the police press conference to retrieve his stolen bike. The suspects issued an apology to the victim.

All four suspects are currently detained and will face legal proceedings. The operation was a significant blow to motorbike theft in the area, underscoring the diligent efforts of Nongprue Police in ensuring public safety and property security, reported Pattaya News.