Crime statistics: prostitutes drop, gamblers rise

PHUKET: Arrests made for prostitution in Phuket decreased in March from the previous month, while the number of arrests for gambling shot up by 127 cases, according to monthly crime statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police.

During March, there were 304 arrests for gambling, 139 arrests for prostitution and 110 arrests for drug-related offenses, 58 of which involved ya bah (methamphetamine) with a total of 13,463.25 pills seized.

Twenty-five people were arrested for using cannabis, with a total of 5.8 kilograms confiscated. There were 18 arrests for inhalant abuse and seven for possession of krathom (an indigenous Thai plant that acts as a mild stimulant) with 270 leaves of the plant seized. One person was arrested for possession of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) with 0.5 grams seized.

There were 75 cases of theft reported, of which three involved motorcycles and two involved cars. Arrests were made in 39 of the cases.

No murders were recorded for March, despite Swedish tourist Hanna Backlund being stabbed to death in broad daylight at Mai Khao on March 15.

Nine arrests were made in connection with 12 reports of assault. There were four cases of rape reported with arrests made in three of those cases.