Picture courtesy of Pattaya News

 

In a case of crime not paying, two hapless burglars found themselves in police custody after unwittingly breaking into the holiday home of an esteemed retired judge in Pattaya. The ill-fated caper unfolded on 4th June, culminating in the swift arrest of the suspects in Chon Buri’s Nongprue subdistrict.

 

Lieutenant Colonel Thana Wisetchai of Nongprue Police Station spearheaded the operation that led to the capture of 33-year-old Phonlawat “Pong” Sawatrat and 32-year-old Warayut “Eh” Phrompinit. Both suspects, originally from Buriram province, were apprehended at a flat on Soi Mabtato.

 

The botched burglary occurred on 24th May, when 83-year-old Sombat (surname withheld), a former deputy chief judge of Pattaya Provincial Court, stopped by his holiday retreat on Soi Phornpraphanimit. To his shock, as he opened the gate, two men on a motorcycle came speeding out, narrowly missing the retired judge.

 

Upon inspecting the property, Sombat found the house in chaos with electrical wires ripped out, rooms ransacked, and significant damage to ceilings and doors. Several personal items had also vanished, prompting him to promptly alert the local authorities.

 

Using CCTV footage, police confirmed the suspects' escape route, leading to Phonlawat's identification and subsequent arrest. Under questioning, Phonlawat confessed to the burglary, revealing that neither he nor Warayut was aware of the house's prestigious ownership. The stolen goods, he admitted, were pawned to support daily expenses and fund drug habits.

 

Acting on Phonlawat’s information, police quickly located Warayut at a nearby rowhouse and arrested him without incident. Both men have since confessed to their crimes and are currently under investigation, facing legal proceedings for their bold but ill-conceived criminal venture.

 

What began as an audacious heist ended in a lesson in justice, highlighting the importance of vigilance and law enforcement's reliance on community resources like CCTV to swiftly bring criminals to justice.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-06-05

 

 

It baffles me how quickly Plod swings into action when the victim is a Hi-So, whilst Lo-sos have to appeal for action via Facebook.