Four arrested for Phuket City muggings

PHUKET CITY: Police have announced the arrest of four suspects charged with being part of gang believed to have mugged at least nine motorbike riders in Phuket City.

In a press release, Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Nos Svettalekha identified one of the gang members as Prasit Intachoot, 24.

Prasit and a 15-year-old boy were arrested in Surin Rd Soi 1 in Phuket City about 1 pm on January 22. They were charged with involvement in nine snatch-and-run cases.

Police were led to the pair by another two boys, both 15, who were arrested on Sakdidej Rd Soi 1 in Phuket City at 5:40 am on January 12.

They were subsequently charged with nighttime robbery and possession of weapons.

Col Nos said that the four are part of a gang believed to have committed at least nine robberies.

They targeted people wearing gold necklaces or presumed to be carrying cash. They approached their intended victims on motorbikes, demanding jewelry or snatching their bags, Col Nos said.

The gang is also believed to have stolen mobile phones from local school students, selling them for cash to buy ya bah (methamphetamine), he added.

Police have compiled a list of the names of six other suspects believed to be members of the same gang, Col Nos said.

Police will also request an arrest warrant for a jewelry shop owner who is believed to have bought stolen jewelry from the thieves, he said.