Motorcycle theft gang nabbed

PHUKET TOWN : Police have cracked a gang involved in stealing motorcycles over the past several months with the arrest of seven young men and a young woman early today. Announcing the arrests this afternoon, Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, expressed frustration with the legal system. “Because of the softness of the punishment these days, these people will come back after spending two or three years in jail,” he said. A regular patrol came across the gang at 2:30 this morning in Si Suthat Road, and discovered some of them were riding a bike that had been reported stolen on August 24. After the eight were brought to Phuket Town Police Station for questioning, one of the gang confessed and later in the day officers found seven more stolen bikes, mostly Honda Dreams, along with the registration plates of other bikes believed to have been stolen, and equipment used to “hotwire” motorbikes. The eight charged with stealing motorbikes are: Rungrod “Rod” Puangchan, 22, Wilaiwan “Goong” Klinsukhon, 20, Chaichan “Bump” Wijan, 20, Kittisorn “Num” Janmai, 21, Jaray “Beer” Thabpaen, 20, Anat “Gook” Banburi, 22 Chawalit “Boy” Padsena,19, Apisit “Boy” Seuapan, 22. Officers said some of the group were known to police for previous offenses involving ya bah (methamphetamine). Are all being held in custody.