Man arrested for three robberies

PHUKET: Leng Permthong, 21, a construction worker from Ranong province, was arrested last night for robbing three petrol stations during the past few weeks. The arrest confirmed police suspicions, reported earlier in the online Gazette, that the same individual was responsible for all three robberies. When questioned by Pol Col Chalit Thintanee, superintendent of Muang police station, Leng admitted committing the robberies, saying that he turned to crime because his wages were too low to survive. Pol Capt Surat Muangsri, the case investigator, told the Gazette that Leng became bolder after his first heist and that this led to the 2nd and 3rd robberies and his subsequent arrest. Leng also admitted using a fake gun to threaten his victims and to wearing sunglasses and a cap to disguise himself.