Used car dealer mugged by thugs

PHUKET CITY: The owner of a used car dealership in Phuket Town was robbed at gunpoint on Sakdidet Rd yesterday morning.

Phuket City Police received a report of the mugging at 10:30 am yesterday.

Officers led by Superintendent Col Wanchai Ekpornpit responded to the call.

The victim, 36-year-old used car dealer Surachai Hiab, told investigators he was washing a car in the front lot of his Sirisup Motors used car dealership when four men arrived on motorbikes.

The men first inquired about the cost of some of the vehicles on the lot, then one of them suddenly put him in a choke hold and pointed a gun at him, Mr Surachai told police.

Mr Surachai was forced to remove and hand over the 10-bahtweight (151 gram) gold chain he was wearing. The necklace is worth over 160,000 baht.

The four men then sped off along Sakdidet Rd.

Col Wanchai ordered a manhunt to catch the muggers.

Police will also visit gold shops in the area in case someone tries to sell of the stolen chain, Col Wanchai said.

Mr Surachai told police that three of the men were wearing black, long-sleeved jackets. The fourth was wearing a white T-shirt.

He could only remember that one of the two motorbikes had the digits ‘192’ on the license plate.

At last report the muggers were still at-large.

— Kom Chad Luek