Police net thief in B100mn Phuket tuna factory haul

PHUKET: Phuket City Police have arrested a man they believe is part of a gang which stole equipment with a reported value of almost 100 million baht from a tuna cold storage facility in Rassada.

The management of the Siam Tuna company informed police that the company’s new facility had been broken into repeatedly and equipment worth almost 100 million baht stolen.

Siam Tuna, the Thai branch of an international conglomerate, had earlier met with Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha about their plans to build the plant as part of the company’s efforts to establish Phuket as a regional hub for tuna export.

An intensive investigation by police was launched after the plant was broken into several times and nearly everything of value was stolen.

A break in the case finally came at about 9:30pm yesterday, when a sharp-eyed apprentice mechanic informed police that the thief had entered the plant once again – and was still inside.

Police raced to the facility, where they found 39-year-old Nakhon Sukprasert busily engaged in stripping what was left of the machinery and its copper wiring.

His bid to run free was foiled by police surrounding the building.

After his arrest he was escorted to his home in the nearby Kan Keha public housing estate where police found tools, refrigeration equipment, coils of copper wiring and a variety of drug-taking paraphernalia.

Mr Nakhon confessed to all charges, including theft by breaking and entering at night.

Believing he was part of a gang of thieves with no fewer than five members, police say they will continue to investigate to bring the other members to justice.

They also suspect the mastermind behind the operation may be a foreigner.

— Siangtai Daily