Bangkok Police Arrest Phuket Gold Heist Bandit

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Bangkok Police arrest Phuket gold heist bandit

Phuket Gazette

The Thong Thanet gold shop wasn’t the first gold shop the suspect had robbed. Photo: Kritsada Meuanhawong

PHUKET: -- The brazen thief who made off with an estimated 6 million baht in cash and gold jewelry from a Phuket shop in June last year was arrested in Bangkok on Thursday.

Krittasak “Den” Heetkaew, 25, was arrested in his apartment by Col Narongyod Unnahabunthit and his team at about 1:30pm.

He was then presented at the Region 8 police station by Provincial Police Region 8 Commissioner Santi Pensute.

“After the suspect robbed the Thanet gold shop on June 4 last year, we launched an investigation and discovered he was living in an apartment in Bangkok,” Lt Gen Santi said.

In the apartment the police found gold valued at about 365,00 baht, a .38 handgun and six bullets, as well as the glasses, hat and clothes the suspect had worn during the robberies, said Lt Gen Santi.

He would pick gold shops with poor security measures and that were near intersections, because it was easier to get away, Lt Gen Santi said.

He always planned his escape route before committing the robbery, added Lt Gen Santi.

“I’ve robbed four gold shops,” Mr Krittasak confessed to the media in front of police.

“The first time was December 3, 2008, where I robbed Petch Suwan gold shop on Chana Kasem road at about 2:30pm. I got about 2.86mn baht in gold from the heist.

“The second time was March 25, 2010. It was Charoen Manee gold shop at the entrance of Lard Pla Kao in Bang Khen, Bangkok. From that one I got about 1.7mn baht in gold.

“The third time was in September of the same year. It was Wang Thong gold shop and I stole about 1mn baht in gold. During that robbery I snatched the .38 gun from the shopkeeper and accidentally shot him.

“The last place I robbed was Thong Thanet gold shop in Phuket. Where I stole about 6mn baht in cash and gold,” he said.

Mr Krittasak said that he sold the gold to a shop in the Rungsit area.

He then told police that he had spent the money on “luxury living”, his condo, a car, electronics and a Patek Philippe watch worth 200,000 baht.

“I’m not drinking, smoking or using drugs. I spent most of the money on stuff and travelling around Thailand,” he explained.

“I am sorry for what I have done and didn’t mean to harm anyone. The only reason the shopkeeper was injured was because the gun fired by itself,” he said.

“I knew I would eventually be caught,” he confessed.

Mr Krittasak postured his hands with a wai and apologized to the Pet Suwan and Thanet gold shop owners when they came to identify him.

“I will be a good man when get out,” he said.

“If I had a chance to enter the Buddhist monkhood, I wouldn’t leave it,” he added.

To congratulate the investigation team on their good work the Thong Thanet gold shop owners gave the 100,000 baht reward to them.

Source: http://www.phuketgaz...ticle12925.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2012-05-05

[samjaidee]

Can you imagine shop owners in the UK giving the police money for doing their job? Does that mean that the police give other people money when they don't do their job?

Thailand never ceases to amaze me.

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

No doubt the guy committed these robberies, he admits it. But have they ever thought about just maaaayyy be keeping their mouths shut after being arrested for the one robbery and pleading "not guilty" to the other stuff if he were accused...? It seems every time someone gets caught in a situation, they suddenly come down with diarrhea of the brain and mouth... Or am I way off base here...?

[retell]

guns do not fire by themself

[Honkytowner]

"In the apartment the police found gold valued at about 365,00 baht..."

Hardly what I'd call a major haul of loot. That's just about USD11.80 / EUR9.00. Or, at today's price, about 7 thousandths of an ounce. And the gold shop owners had to pay the police THB100,000 to get back a tiny percentage of what they originally lost.

Nice work BiB!

Or are the subs at the Phuket Gazette just as incompetent as those at The Nation?

[ALFREDO]

-Honkytowner-

I believe there is just a "0" missing and it should read 365.000.- Baht.

[johndudorn]

I was robbed of a three baht chain in 1974, hit in the head by the robber (three stiches) and the police wanted me to pay to find the robber. My Thai wife would not repeat what I said to the officer. She was concerned I might end up in jail. Things have not changed much over the years...

[Gerryasia]

No doubt the guy committed these robberies, he admits it. But have they ever thought about just maaaayyy be keeping their mouths shut after being arrested for the one robbery and pleading "not guilty" to the other stuff if he were accused...? It seems every time someone gets caught in a situation, they suddenly come down with diarrhea of the brain and mouth... Or am I way off base here...?

As I understand the Thai "court/justice" system...the more he "admits/confesses" to, the lighter his sentence will be for all his crimes. Supposedly saves time and money for investigations? Mai roo...'_'

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

No doubt the guy committed these robberies, he admits it. But have they ever thought about just maaaayyy be keeping their mouths shut after being arrested for the one robbery and pleading "not guilty" to the other stuff if he were accused...? It seems every time someone gets caught in a situation, they suddenly come down with diarrhea of the brain and mouth... Or am I way off base here...?

As I understand the Thai "court/justice" system...the more he "admits/confesses" to, the lighter his sentence will be for all his crimes. Supposedly saves time and money for investigations? Mai roo...'_'

Thank you Gerry...That does answer my question...I was thinking that could be the only reason...

[mikebike]

Can you imagine shop owners in the UK giving the police money for doing their job? Does that mean that the police give other people money when they don't do their job?

Yes, in the west no influential businesses or businessmen ever "donate" to police benevolent associations or other police "charities". Also rewards are never offered in the UK - what a utopia!

[geriatrickid]

The fellow looks like a nice guy, and not your typical nasty looking thug. Well groomed, nice teeth and he was both reticent and polite during the public show, even smiling for the cameras with the coppers. His love of the good life was the motive. What a shame as he probably would have succeeded if he had put his cunning to legal pursuits. He's going away for 5-10 years each count and might qualify for pardon in 5 years if he is a model prisoner.

Waste of a life.

[blacksuitdandruff]

sounds like someone snitched on him.

i'm sure he had/has some cash stashed away. might still be there when he gets out.