Luxury Watches Worth Over 100 Million Baht Stolen in Chinese Home Burglary Near Pattaya

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of SiamChon.

 

A daring burglary took place during the evening of January 15, when a thief broke into a residence in the Huai Yai area of Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, and looted high-end watches worth over 100 million baht from a safe.

 

The crime came to light at approximately 01:30 when Pol. Lt. Navin Sunthuanik, Deputy Inspector of Huai Yai Police Station, received a report of a burglary in a village in Moo 11, Huai Yai Subdistrict. Officers and forensic experts were dispatched to the scene immediately.

 

Upon arrival, investigators examined the two-storey house, valued at an estimated 8 million baht, situated on an 80-square-wah plot. In a second-floor room, they found a black safe, 1.5 meters high and 1 meter wide, forcibly opened with a sledgehammer and a crowbar. The back panel of the safe was severely damaged. Wooden watch boxes capable of holding up to 10 watches each were found scattered across the room, but no watches remained.

 

Further inspection revealed that a rear window of the house had been forced open, presumably the point of entry for the intruder. Forensic experts collected fingerprints and other evidence from the scene to aid in identifying the suspect.

 

The house’s caretaker, Mr. Youchao Cho, 43, a Chinese national, provided a statement to police in a distressed state. Mr. Cho explained that he was looking after the property on behalf of his friend, Mr. Wang Liang Chen, 39, a Chinese businessman and owner of the house, who is currently in China dealing with legal issues. Mr. Chen operates a tourism company in Thailand but has been unable to return to the country.

 

Mr. Cho revealed that he and his family had left the house between 15:00 and 21:00 on January 15 to run errands. Upon their return, they discovered the burglary. The rear window had been pried open, and the safe was damaged. While Mr. Cho was unaware of the safe’s contents, initial information from Mr. Chen confirmed that the safe contained luxury watches from prestigious brands, valued at over 100 million baht. The thief took all the watches, leaving only the empty boxes.

 

Mr. Somboon 56, a business partner of Mr. Chen, corroborated the caretaker’s statement. He added that the property’s value and its contents underscored the severity of the crime.

 

Police investigators, led by Pol. Col. Chatree Suksiri, Deputy Commander of Chonburi Provincial Police, revisited the crime scene on the afternoon of January 16, for further examination. CCTV footage from the house is being reviewed to identify potential suspects. Mr. Cho has been brought in for further questioning, while authorities are in contact with Mr. Chen to verify the total value of the stolen items.

 

A security guard for the village informed reporters that the area is predominantly owned by Chinese nationals, with properties ranging in value from 7 million baht for single-storey homes to over 10 million baht for two-storey houses with swimming pools. He speculated that the thief might have entered the property by climbing the rear fence, which backs onto a forested area.

 

Police continue to gather evidence to track down the perpetrator.

 

-- 2025-01-17

 

 

[Jim Blue]

Better watch this guy !

[sammieuk1]

Dead friends roam this land looking for any import duty paid?, it must be obvious to even the RTP' it's an inside job 🤔 

[Andre0720]

1 hour ago, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of SiamChon.

 

A daring burglary took place during the evening of January 15, when a thief broke into a residence in the Huai Yai area of Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province, and looted high-end watches worth over 100 million baht from a safe.

 

The crime came to light at approximately 01:30 when Pol. Lt. Navin Sunthuanik, Deputy Inspector of Huai Yai Police Station, received a report of a burglary in a village in Moo 11, Huai Yai Subdistrict. Officers and forensic experts were dispatched to the scene immediately.

 

Upon arrival, investigators examined the two-storey house, valued at an estimated 8 million baht, situated on an 80-square-wah plot. In a second-floor room, they found a black safe, 1.5 meters high and 1 meter wide, forcibly opened with a sledgehammer and a crowbar. The back panel of the safe was severely damaged. Wooden watch boxes capable of holding up to 10 watches each were found scattered across the room, but no watches remained.

 

 

Further inspection revealed that a rear window of the house had been forced open, presumably the point of entry for the intruder. Forensic experts collected fingerprints and other evidence from the scene to aid in identifying the suspect.

 

The house’s caretaker, Mr. Youchao Cho, 43, a Chinese national, provided a statement to police in a distressed state. Mr. Cho explained that he was looking after the property on behalf of his friend, Mr. Wang Liang Chen, 39, a Chinese businessman and owner of the house, who is currently in China dealing with legal issues. Mr. Chen operates a tourism company in Thailand but has been unable to return to the country.

 

Mr. Cho revealed that he and his family had left the house between 15:00 and 21:00 on January 15 to run errands. Upon their return, they discovered the burglary. The rear window had been pried open, and the safe was damaged. While Mr. Cho was unaware of the safe’s contents, initial information from Mr. Chen confirmed that the safe contained luxury watches from prestigious brands, valued at over 100 million baht. The thief took all the watches, leaving only the empty boxes.

 

Mr. Somboon 56, a business partner of Mr. Chen, corroborated the caretaker’s statement. He added that the property’s value and its contents underscored the severity of the crime.

 

Police investigators, led by Pol. Col. Chatree Suksiri, Deputy Commander of Chonburi Provincial Police, revisited the crime scene on the afternoon of January 16, for further examination. CCTV footage from the house is being reviewed to identify potential suspects. Mr. Cho has been brought in for further questioning, while authorities are in contact with Mr. Chen to verify the total value of the stolen items.

 

A security guard for the village informed reporters that the area is predominantly owned by Chinese nationals, with properties ranging in value from 7 million baht for single-storey homes to over 10 million baht for two-storey houses with swimming pools. He speculated that the thief might have entered the property by climbing the rear fence, which backs onto a forested area.

 

Police continue to gather evidence to track down the perpetrator.

 

 

-- 2025-01-17

 

 

Well, no harm done.

As just about everybody nowadays hold their smart phone in their hands, even while driving, and can check on the time of day at will.

So just candies were stolen....

[jacko45k]

And who did this guy borrow the watches from?

[scottiejohn]

1 hour ago, Jim Blue said:

Better watch this guy !

I haven't got the time!

[mikebell]

2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

left the house between 15:00 and 21:00 on January 15 to run errands.

A six hour shopping spree?  Long enough to sledge hammer a way into a safe?  Hmn!

[mikebell]

36 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

And who did this guy borrow the watches from?

It wasn't Prawit, he returned them to his dead friend's estate.

[phetphet]

14 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

I haven't got the time!

Is this a wind up?

[scottiejohn]

30 minutes ago, phetphet said:

Is this a wind up?

On second thoughts I think it was an automatic response!

[soi3eddie]

Not very safe!

 

[Tropicalevo]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

And who did this guy borrow the watches from?

 

1 hour ago, mikebell said:

It wasn't Prawit, he returned them to his dead friend's estate.

 

But does Prawit have an alibi?

[ronster]

I'm smelling insurance job !🤔

[Will B Good]

More like…...

 

Fake luxury Watches Worth Over 100 Baht Stolen in Chinese Home Burglary Near Pattaya

[Justanotherone]

chinese owner? 100 million in watches... wow

[Georgealbert]

UPDATE
Police Continues to Investigate Burglary at Chinese Home in Bang Lamung

 

Picture from responders.

 

Police are continuing the investigation to solve a high-profile burglary at a property in Bang Lamung, Chonburi, where an estimated 100 million baht worth of valuables were stolen. The suspects targeted a large safe containing luxury watches, leaving behind significant damage.

 

The incident occurred at a residence in a housing estate in Huai Yai subdistrict. The property belongs to a Chinese businessman who has not visited Thailand for over eight years. The safe, which was forcibly opened, was brought into the house by the owner when the property was purchased.

 

At noon on January 17, local police, led by Police Colonel Atthapol Itthayophasakul, along with forensic experts, revisited the crime scene to gather further evidence. The safe, measuring 1 metre wide, 1.5 metres high, and weighing 250 kilograms, had been embedded in concrete and reinforced with thick steel. It was pried open using hammers and crowbars, leaving debris and dust scattered throughout the room.

 

Investigators also examined eight wooden watch boxes, each capable of holding ten watches, and an empty Rolex box, which were left behind.

 

The property was being occupied by Mr. Yu Chao Zhao, a 43-year-old Chinese national, who told police he had been living there for four months. He claimed to have been invited by a friend to stay and look after the house. Mr. Zhao stated that he was unaware of the safe’s contents and denied any involvement in the burglary.

 

Police revealed that the house is jointly owned by a Chinese individual, identified only as Mr. Wang Liang Chen, and a Thai partner. Mr. Wang brought the safe to the property eight years ago while running a tour company in Thailand. However, legal issues in China have prevented him from returning to Thailand since then.

 

Authorities are examining CCTV footage to determine how and when the suspects gained access to the property. Initial findings suggest the burglary was carefully planned, with the intruders specifically targeting the safe.

 

The stolen items, primarily luxury watches, are valued at over 100 million baht. However, police are awaiting verification of these claims as the property’s original owner has not yet provided supporting evidence.

 

Investigators believe the suspects had knowledge of the safe’s presence and may have acted on information about its potential contents. Police are continuing to follow leads and have urged anyone with relevant information to come forward.

 

-- 2025-01-17

 

 

 

[MalcolmB]

9 hours ago, mikebell said:

It wasn't Prawit, he returned them to his dead friend's estate.

And what was that dead friends name? 
Who was he? 
Where did he live?
What was his occupation?

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

And what was that dead friends name? 
Who was he? 
Where did he live?
What was his occupation?

 

You will never know

[steven100]

 

Firstly,    I don't believe a safe of that size can be opened with a sledgehammer & crowbar . Large safes cannot be opened with a hammer and crowbar.  

 

secondly,    I'm smelling either an insurance job organized by the owner who conveniently is in China,   or it's an inside job,   someone close to the owner. 

 

I'll take ' an insurance job '  for 500 thank's Tony.   

[smedly]

a very targetted robery,obvious who ever did this knew the safe was there and its contents 

 

 

[Will B Good]

3 minutes ago, smedly said:

a very targetted robery,obvious who ever did this knew the safe was there and its contents 

 

 

…gf...?

[Humpy]

Who needs a watch costing millions ?  ' Oh ! gosh , look at the time , half past luxury three '.. 

[Briggsy]

4 minutes ago, Humpy said:

Who needs a watch costing millions ?  ' Oh ! gosh , look at the time , half past luxury three '.. 

Go to China and you will find they are obsessed with high end watches. They are constantly checking each other's wrists. It is a cultural phenomenon.

 

It is similar to owning property as a store of value, a mentality deeply embedded in the culture.

 

This of course does not mean any watches were stolen in this robbery.

[Jerzy Swirski]

Very helpful of the "burglar" to leave the boxes behind  as it helps to verify to the insurance company how many watches were "stolen"

[tomacht8]

A massiv 250kg safe with Steel and concrete reinforcement, just open with a sledgehammer and crowbar??? 

Hard to believe.

Your arms and hands are more likely to fall off when you hit such a hard surface with a sledgehammer. That must have made also a lot of noise. This story sounds fishy.

[Liverpool Lou]

On 1/17/2025 at 6:01 PM, steven100 said:

I don't believe a safe of that size can be opened with a sledgehammer & crowbar .

Even though the evidence of it clearly being possible is shown in the OP?

[Liverpool Lou]

32 minutes ago, tomacht8 said:

A massiv 250kg safe with Steel and concrete reinforcement, just open with a sledgehammer and crowbar??? 

Hard to believe.

Your arms and hands are more likely to fall off when you hit such a hard surface with a sledgehammer. That must have made also a lot of noise. This story sounds fishy.

...and yet, there is the buggered-up safe or all the cynical AN Chinese-bashers to see.

[henryford1958]

"owned by Chinese nationals" how can they own houses in Thailand

[Upnotover]

16 minutes ago, henryford1958 said:

"owned by Chinese nationals" how can they own houses in Thailand

Same way all the farang "owned" houses in the area, of which there are very many.

[JimHuaHin]

On 1/17/2025 at 8:22 AM, mikebell said:

It wasn't Prawit, he returned them to his dead friend's estate.

Evidence, please.