Police Break Up Burglary Ring

[george]

Police break up burglary ring

Say foreign gang targeted housing estates across Bangkok, provinces

BANGKOK: -- Two Colombian men and a Thai woman have been arrested for many burglaries across Bangkok and its adjacent provinces.

The police named them as Alvaro Gomez Pederos, 33, Adelmo Garcia Ardiia, 40, and his wife Walaiporn Khana, 25.

Digital cameras, computer notebooks, jewellery pieces, amulets and many more valuables worth several millions of baht were found in their possession.

"We traced these suspects through documents they used at a car-rental company," Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lt-General Suchat Muankaew said at a press conference yesterday.

"Although they had altered the licence plate number from 2170 to 2470 during their burglary, we managed to nail them."

Ardiia tearfully told police that he had committed the burglaries to raise money for his sick mother, and his family.

"My mom is ill. She's in Colombia," Ardiia said, "Besides, I need money to live here in Thailand."

Pederos said he was vacationing in Thailand when a fellow Colombian invited him to join his gang of burglars.

"I have since taken charge of opening a safe," the Colombian said. "I'd thought the long arm of law would never reach me."

According to the arrested suspects, Aerson Neo, who is absconding, was the gang leader. Police also found a fabricated badge stating that Neo was a reporter for NUS Service Limited.

Revealing their modus operandi, the suspects said the gang would drive into housing estates where security guards were not strict.

While Ardiia was the driver, another accomplice, 33-year-old Caolin Diyana, then got out and rang a bell in front of their targeted house to check if there was anyone inside.

If someone answered the door, Diyana would say sorry and claim she had come to the wrong address.

But if no one showed up, Neo and Thornlet Anne, also absconding, would break into the houses and steal all the valuables they could find. Waraporn, Ardiia and Pederos have already been charged with many counts relating to burglaries.

Police are set to issue arrest warrants for Anne, Diyana and Neo.

Suchart has now advised security guards to be strict about people coming in and out of their housing estates.

"Sometimes, security guards are prone to be lenient when seeing foreigners. But now, they had better be strict," Suchart said.

-- The Nation 2009-02-09

[Loaded]

The TV news reports this morning called them foreigners. Thais won't know that it is a gang of Colombian lowl lifes but may think it's a gang of American, or UK, or Australian expats.

[jamesjdaly]

Besides, I need money to live here in Thailand.

That's a good, genuine reason. No jury in the land will convict him!!

[Scott]

I am afraid there are farangs involved in theft like this as well. A co-worker watched two farangs in a pickup pull up to a house across from his. Break in and leave with valuables. He has lived there quite a while and didn't know them and hadn't seen them before. He didn't realize what happened until the owner and police came and asked if he had seen anything! He just couldn't believe farangs would do that--he assumed they had permission to go in the house.

[hansnl]

The number of western criminals found out by the police make you wonder if only criminal westerners are living or visiting Thailand.

[dumball]

The number of western criminals found out by the police make you wonder if only criminal westerners are living or visiting Thailand.

Why don't you run a poll on that subject ? With the number of members here on TV , you could do a terrific job to help the local police and save a huge amount of tax payers hard earned cash , whilst wiping out the bad name the foriegners have for all what ails Thailand . Oh , but wait a moment , when you take away all of those married to 'Hi-sos' and the wanabees deeply embeded in all that it is to be a genuine , live in the jungle type of native Thai , NAH , forget it , no criminal types here .

[eggomaniac]

The TV news reports this morning called them foreigners. Thais won't know that it is a gang of Colombian lowl lifes but may think it's a gang of American, or UK, or Australian expats.

and ya wouldn't want them thinking American, or UK, or Australian expats could be low lifes!

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/American-Sho...=dead&st=50

Whoops TOO LATE

[timonase]

Hello All,

i was aactually robbed by them, on 17.1.09. Stole my notebook and some cash and left the house in a mess. They robbed 4 houses on the same day in my street, in broad daylight.

I am glad that the police actually caught them...

I will have to go see them on friday to press charges against them.

I was able to get my computer bacm, but many things from us and our neighbours are still with the people at large.

By the way the colombian embassy does not want to help with a translator.

regards

Timo