Aussie arrested in Koh Pha Ngan after joyride on stolen motorcycle

[webfact]

 

Police arrested an Australian man for allegedly stealing a motorcycle from a rental shop in Koh Samui and taking it on a joyride to Koh Pha Ngan in the southern province of Surat Thani.

 

The manager of the Fanta Group Car Rental Shop in Koh Samui, Jurairat Janrung, filed a complaint with Bor Phut Police Station on March 3, reporting the theft of a motocross motorcycle worth about 300,000 baht. The 32 year old Jurairat suspected the theft occurred on the night of March 2.

 

Officers checked security cameras and saw a man, later identified as 56 year old Helmul Ing Obritzberger, enter the rental shop and disappear. Another CCTV camera reportedly showed Obritzberger leaving the scene on a motorcycle.

Further investigation revealed that Obritzberger took the motorcycle to a ferry at Ban Bangrak Pier in Koh Samui, heading to Koh Pha Ngan. The Australian man then disappeared from police sight after arriving on the island.

Police tried to track down the motorcycle using its registration number, ปป 4493 but were unable to find it anywhere on the island.

 

After three weeks of searching, police found that Obritzberger had changed the registration plate of the motorcycle to 1 กว 1982, changed the colour of the wheels, and changed his clothes upon arrival at Koh Pha Ngan.

 

However, officers managed to identify him by his footwear. They located Obritzberger and apprehended him on Koh Pha Ngan at approximately 5pm on Tuesday, March 26.

 

Obritzberger is facing charges under Section 335 of the Criminal Law for committing theft during nighttime. The penalty for this offence ranges from one to five years of imprisonment and a fine ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 baht.

 

Although Obritzberger admitted that it was him captured in the security camera footage, he denied stealing the motorcycle and requested to engage his lawyer. However, the officers remained unconvinced and transported him to Koh Samui Court for temporary detention.

 

Police told MGR Online that the Australian man frequently visited Koh Pha Ngan but did not stay in hotels or resorts on the island. He was seen staying in a tent near a hotel or shopping mall.

 

Police added that Obritzberger previously rented motorbikes on the island and refused to pay fees, although no formal complaints had been made against him.

 

By Petch Petpailin

Photo via MGR Online

 

Source: The Thaiger 2024-03-28

 

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[Rampant Rabbit]

must remember to change shoes next time, thanks for the tip

[heybuz]

Helmul Ing Obritzberger,AUSTRALIAN?  AUSTRIAN?

[reefsurfah]

Another loser who overstayed their visa or money 😂

[n00dle]

Quote

the theft of a motocross motorcycle worth about 300,000 baht

 like fok it is.

that said, what a waste of skin this dude is. 

Seriously, why?  on an island getting caught is inevitable.  

[ChipButty]

Thats a good Aussie name, 

[ChipButty]

We just buy a new scooter the other week Im thinking to put a GPS or whatever you call it, tracking, 

[stoner]

10 minutes ago, n00dle said:

 like fok it is.

that said, what a waste of skin this dude is. 

Seriously, why?  on an island getting caught is inevitable.  

 

looks like a big bike of sorts. he must of got up to at least 2nd gear on the island. 

[keith101]

Blacklist and deport him 

[VocalNeal]

37 minutes ago, webfact said:

However, officers managed to identify him by his footwear.

 

Rookie mistake🧐

[rexpotter]

Not very clever. The shoes.....dam

[brianthainess]

36 minutes ago, heybuz said:

Helmul Ing Obritzberger,AUSTRALIAN?  AUSTRIAN?

Swiss ? 

[lom]

36 minutes ago, heybuz said:

Helmul Ing Obritzberger,AUSTRALIAN?  AUSTRIAN?

Very Austrian name..

[rexpotter]

3 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

Swiss ? 

Yes, the could tell it was him by the way he 'Kick Started' the bike.

[Nick Carter icp]

A joyride is when a person takes a stolen vehicle for a drive and then  dumps it .

This sounds like  theft and he intended to keep the bike , rather than a joyride

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, webfact said:

 

Officers checked security cameras and saw a man, later identified as 56 year old Helmul Ing Obritzberger

Sure he's an Australian not Austrian 🤔

 

 

[freeworld]

If one searches online a name comes up about an Austrian. The ing. could possibly denote  an engineer.

 

I remember in Mexico they used to call the engineers ing. "whoever" and their names on correspondence was prefixed with this title.

Edited March 28 by freeworld

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, stoner said:

 

looks like a big bike of sorts. he must of got up to at least 2nd gear on the island. 

There are some very good roads on KPN - with very interesting bends.

He could 'open the throttle' on a few stretches of concrete.

That's why people die in mb accidents there.

[ChipButty]

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

A joyride is when a person takes a stolen vehicle for a drive and then  dumps it .

This sounds like  theft and he intended to keep the bike , rather than a joyride

Once you change the plates then it is theft, 

[rexpotter]

Many that used to appear to be very rational people come here and lose their minds. Too much freedom.

[Nick Carter icp]

Just now, rexpotter said:

Many that used to appear to be very rational people come here and lose their minds. Too much freedom.

 

   How do you know that he was rational before coming to Thailand ?

Thailand also attracts dishonest thieves who move to Thailand and make a living doing dodgy things

Maybe he was a thief back home as well ?

[rexpotter]

2 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   How do you know that he was rational before coming to Thailand ?

Thailand also attracts dishonest thieves who move to Thailand and make a living doing dodgy things

Maybe he was a thief back home as well ?

Possibly, maybe he was a monster in a business suit back there waiting to explode.

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Police told MGR Online that the Australian man frequently visited Koh Pha Ngan but did not stay in hotels or resorts on the island. He was seen staying in a tent near a hotel or shopping mall.

Or an old hippy who goes to KPN for the dope and drugs.

Rocks up now and again, pitches his tent, steals a bike, smokes a joint and tries to relive the years that he missed, Bob Marley style.

[rexpotter]

8 minutes ago, Tropicalevo said:

Or an old hippy who goes to KPN for the dope and drugs.

Rocks up now and again, pitches his tent, steals a bike, smokes a joint and tries to relive the years that he missed, Bob Marley style.

Exactly, trying to relive his past.

[jts-khorat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

After three weeks of searching, police found that Obritzberger had changed the registration plate of the motorcycle to 1 กว 1982, changed the colour of the wheels, and changed his clothes upon arrival at Koh Pha Ngan.

 

The mind boggles why people would do this, in a foreign country, with a jail system known to be quite uncomfortable.

 

I can understand crimes of passion or crimes of opportunity, but this was obviously planned -- over a motorcycle worth less than 10,000 euro. Why?!

 

At least he did not kick anybody...

Edited March 28 by jts-khorat

[Goat]

3 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Sure he's an Australian not Austrian 🤔

 

 

Of course he is Austrian. Just like that spitter on the motorbike kicking cars earlier this month was a kiwi. 

You never get real Aussies in the bad news in Thailand. We know how to behave.

And probably do more to help disadvantaged Thais than all the other nations combined.

[rexpotter]

29 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   How do you know that he was rational before coming to Thailand ?

Thailand also attracts dishonest thieves who move to Thailand and make a living doing dodgy things

Maybe he was a thief back home as well ?

I know as much as you do, I only speak from personal experience about my own life here.

[rexpotter]

1 minute ago, Goat said:

Of course he is Austrian. Just like that spitter on the motorbike kicking cars earlier this month was a kiwi. 

You never get real Aussies in the bad news in Thailand. We know how to behave.

And probably do more to help disadvantaged Thais than all the other nations combined.

Aussies are the most upstanding people I have ever met.

[JoseThailand]

Great job, Thai police!

[JoseThailand]

4 hours ago, ChipButty said:

Thats a good Aussie name, 

 

You never heard of immigrants?