Early-teen motorcycle thieves nabbed

PHUKET TOWN: A gang of eight boys, all aged about 14, were taken into custody and charged with motorcycle theft following a police raid on their hangout off Sakdidet Rd on Sunday. Police suspected the boys might responsible for a surge in motorcycle thefts in the Sakdidet Rd area when they observed the gang involved in a bustling trade in used motorcycle parts and the dismantling of several motorcycles daily. Phuket Town Police Chief Inspector Pol Lt Col Sermpan Sirikong spearheaded the raid on a house on Soi Thanit Turakij. The boys initially denied the motorcycles at the house were stolen, but later confessed to the charges and brought out motorcycle parts which had been hidden on the property. One of the gang’s masterminds was a 14-year-old with a previous conviction on similar charges. The gang also admitted to stealing motorbikes in the Taay Rod market and Soi Anamai Leamchang areas.